Page 336 - Foundations

We read previously from Numbers the thirteenth chapter that the sons of Anak (the Anakim) were
a part of the Nephilim. The Anakim were a race of giants. How could this race of giants be part of the
Nephilim if the word Nephilim refers only to the fallen angels? The answer leads us to the discovery
that both the fallen angels and their progeny were referred to as Nephilim. This was a very common
occurrence in the Scriptures. Many nations of people were identified by their forebears. The most
common example of this is observed in the name “Israelites.” The Israelites are the offspring of Israel,
the son of Isaac, and grandson of Abraham.

The Canaanites were (at least partially) descended from Canaan, the son of Ham, and grandson of
Noah. The Ishmaelites were descendants of Ishmael. Dozens of such examples could be cited from
the Bible. Very frequently we see these nations described solely by reference to the name of the father.
Thus, instead of Israelites, the nation may be referred to as Israel. Instead of Moabites, we read of
Moab. In place of Edomites, the Bible speaks of Edom.

Numbers 20:21
Thus Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.

The verse above reads like a conflict between two men named Edom and Israel. The truth, however,
is that both Edom (Esau) and Israel had been dead for centuries. What is described is a conflict
between latter generations of their offspring. So too we find that the word Nephilim is used to speak
of the fallen angels and their offspring.

It is little wonder that Yahweh declared war on the race of giants descended from the fallen angels.
They were conceived in an act of rebellion. The disobedience of the fallen angels required judgment.
The unlawful seed they raised up had to be expunged from the earth. This was accomplished the first
time at the flood of Noah. All who survived the flood were eight members of Noah’s family. After
the flood the fallen ones continued their transgression, and more giants were born to women. In the
Bible we read of the great majority of these giants dwelling in the land of Canaan. Yahweh’s chosen
people Israel were given the task of wiping out this race of giants, removing them from the face of
the earth. Thus Yahweh judged them a second time. Yahweh also judged the angels who transgressed
His will by choosing wives from among the daughters of men.

II Peter 2:4-10
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits
of darkness, reserved for judgment... then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation,
and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who
indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.

Do these words not describe perfectly the actions of the Nephilim? They indulged the flesh and
despised the authority of God. Consequently, God has delivered them into chains and pits of darkness,
awaiting the day of judgment.

I would like to address what is perhaps the most common alternative interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4.
This interpretation suggests that the expression “sons of God” is a reference to the descendants of
Seth, the son of Adam, while the expression “daughters of men” is a reference to the female