בראשית, פרק י״ט, פסוק י״א

Just moments before a violent mob breaches a home, a sudden supernatural intervention completely changes the course of events. The angels deliver a paralyzing blow to the people of Sodom, achieving a dual purpose: it rescues Lot from an immediate crisis and ensures the wicked are incapacitated, preventing them from escaping the fire and brimstone that will fall the next day [פענח רזא, ביאור יש״ר]. The strike specifically targets those standing right at the entrance. Because the mob is likely divided into groups, only the inner circle pressing against the door is hit. This dynamic explains why Lot's future sons-in-law, who are presumably standing in the outer circle, remain unaware of the miracle and later think Lot is merely joking about the coming destruction [קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. The affliction spreads gradually. The first attackers at the door are struck and retreat in confusion, only to be replaced by others who are subsequently hit, until the entire crowd is affected [ביאור יש״ר]. The punishment begins specifically with the younger men, as they are the ones who initiated the offense and incited the rest of the mob [רש״י, גור אריה, שפתי חכמים, משכיל לדוד].

The exact nature of this weaponless blow is a subject of discussion [גור אריה]. The primary approach among commentators is that the attackers are struck with complete physical blindness [רד״ק, שד״ל, רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ, יהל אור]. Alternatively, other commentators suggest this is not a standard loss of sight, but rather a sudden illness that combines blurred vision with severe mental confusion and madness. According to this perspective, the men see shadows and illusions, their minds spin, and they completely lose their ability to think clearly or navigate their surroundings [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, ביאור יש״ר, אם למקרא].

As a result of this affliction, the townspeople exhaust themselves in a futile effort to locate the entrance [רשב״ם, שד״ל, ביאור יש״ר]. Their profound confusion causes them to walk in the wrong direction while believing they are heading toward the house [בכור שור], or their distorted vision creates the illusion of multiple doors, leading them to search in vain for the real one [פרדס יוסף]. This relentless behavior exposes the deep wickedness and stubbornness of the people of Sodom. Even after being struck by a miraculous blow from God, they fail to recognize it as a divine warning and refuse to repent. Instead of abandoning their malicious intentions, they continue to expend all their energy trying to break in, perfectly illustrating the ancient wisdom that the wicked do not turn back from their path even when standing at the very gates of hell [ספורנו, צרור המור].