The Nephilim and the Sons of God: Heroes or Demons?

The Nephilim in Genesis 6 are one of the more bizarre and confusing passages in the Bible - and there are a lot of those. They appear alongside groups called the "sons of god" and "daughters of men." But who are the Nephilim? Who are the "sons of god?" Are they giant demi-gods who wandered the earth? Are they human heroes? Were they real? What are we supposed to make of this weird passage in the Bible? Well we may not answer all of these questions but we will look at what scholars have said about this. Let's dig in.
#archaeology #biblicalarchaeology #ancienthistory #bible #ancientneareast #Nephilim #demigod #sonsofgod #genesis6
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For a brief introduction into the literature check out:
Ronald Hendel, "Of Demigods and the Deluge: Toward and Interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4," JBL 106 (1987): 13-26.
James K. Hoffmeier, Gordon Wenham, Kenton Sparks, Genesis: History, Fiction, or Neither? Three Views on The Bible's Earliest Chapters. Counterpoints: Bible and Theology. Stanley Gundry and Charles Halton editors. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan: 2015.
Tremper Longman III, The Story of God Genesis Commentary. Tremper Longman III and Scot McNight editors. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan: 2006.
John Walton, Genesis NIV Application Commentary, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan: 2001.
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00:05 Intro to Nephilim
02:08 Genesis 6
04:25 Sons of God as Supernatural Beings
06:08 Sons of God as the Line of Seth
06:50 Sons of God as Human Rulers
08:40 Nephilim in Modern Interpretations
11:37 The etymology of "Nephilim"
13:53 Gilgamesh?
16:08 What to make of the Nephilim?
17:31 The Nephilim's Place in the Primeval History
19:40 Thanks for watching!

[@fostena]

You deserve 100 times the views you receive regularly. Thank you and keep it up!

[@js1423]

Another great video! Wasn't Gilgamesh's dad also a demigod, wouldn't that explain also why she 2/3 deity? Also, Zach from "What Your Pastor Didn’t Tell You" interviewed Dr. Amar Annus a few months back. He was the one who connected the apkallu to the watchers and the late Dr. Michael S. Heiser also credits him as well as a major cornerstone for his scholarship!

[@ObjectiveEthics]

First time watching your channel.... thumbs up 👍... yes. Subscribed... absolutely!!! Looking forward to checking out your past content.

[@ryanbeus2512]

Very grateful for your guys’ work.

[@Highspergamy]

You fell for one of the classic blunders!! First is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this, Never throw in with a GIANT assuring everyone what a NICE GUY HE IS!!!

[@ObjectiveEthics]

Loved the 'Princess Bride' reference 😅... second rule "Never get into a battle of wits with a Sicilian when death is on the line haha ha ha... croak" 😅😅😅

[@rajeshbokka871]

Excellent Video ❤

[@georgesparks7833]

Fantastic job 👍

[@ericphillips8006]

I enjoy and learn from your videos. However, I’d advise more skepticism around critical scholarship and less around the biblical text. Critical scholarship helps us understand the Bible but I would not recommend prioritizing it over the biblical text. Otherwise we aren’t Christians but history buffs.

[@johndonnelly712]

Have you looked at Heiser’s “unseen realm”?

[@2minTheology]

So far the video unfortunately dismisses the progressive exegetical possibility that God’s wrath has more to do with Genesis 6:5” The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” And not necessarily of the union of sons of God and daughters of men. Nor of the neihelins. Additionally, we have the issue of asking if the worldwide flood could do away with angelic “falling” beings. Lastly, if the flood wiped this union, why there are survivors? That is the issue of having them repeated in numbers and exodus. Therefore, I would suggest revamping this video to add and/or elaborate on these.

[@amyrobeson]

😍😍

[@user-gb9cd3ly8u]

I'm still trying to figure out how EVERYONE thinks Adam and Eve can multiply the earth 🌎 by only bearing 3 sons???? ------ HELLO.... ANYONE AWAKE YET???? ----- HERDSMAN III OLD III

[@Highspergamy]

Adam and Eve indicate the first couple of a dynasty. Any succeeding rulers in the dynasty are also considered Adam and Eve. The lines of Cain and Seth are the same(poorly disguised). "Cain" fathered the line of Seth in a Levirate marriage after his elder brother's death. In Egyptian mythology if I'm not mistaken, the first 3 created beings were Isis, and the brothers Osiris and Seth. Seth resented his brother and plotted against him. Osiris, trusting his brother, naively followed direction straight into the trap like a lamb to slaughter... Is it a coincidence that the Biblical "righteous" line, shares the name of the Egyptian's first brother murdering deity?

[@user-gb9cd3ly8u]

@@Highspergamy THAT'S SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH. ----- If Cain fathered the Seth line and it was just Cain and then Seth, where did the woman come from for Cain to father your IGNORANCE, in the Seth line? = STICKING WITH SCRIPTURE and not your Egyptian mythology additions. ---- EVERYONE'S IGNORANCE IS A THOUSAND PLUS YEARS OF NONSENSE AND FED BY INDOCTRINATION OF CULT DENOMINATIONS.= The ministry of SATAN!!!! ------ ADAM and Eve had only 3 sons!!!! ---- So tell me who were the " Men of renown" ? And watch me crush your answer. ----- It amazes me at how many people still thinking Adam and Eve could have subdued the world 🌎 when Adam was a gardener from birth to his last breath 🫁 ----- No TIME to be a fisherman a metal worker a musical INSTRUMENT 🎷 MAKER a carpenter. ----- A bunch of BLIND 🦯🦯🦯🦯 SHEEP 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑 ye ALL ARE!!!! ------ REMOVE YOUR BLINDERS!!!! ------ HERDSMAN III OLD III

[@nmjjmn663]

They had more children than the three sons. After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. -Genesis 5:4 Maybe try at least a minimal level of research before making your claims.

[@user-gb9cd3ly8u]

@@nmjjmn663 NOPE!!!! YOU'RE READING IT WRONG. ---- TRY STUDYING LAW and learning the LEGAL LANGUAGE of the LAW. ---- AND REMOVING a judge from his bench as I have done. --- Then MAYBE you will open your spiritual mind. ----- HERDSMAN III OLD III

[@ShirleyAnnPetrillo-oj7sc]

Interesting ! Was there some “queen of heaven” who mated with her son ?

[@zephyr1408]

Using man inspired books like “ Enoch” to explained God breathed text is not Christian! Period full stop ! Not even to get into the FACT Enoch did not write the book nor did the Church endorse the book! Enoch was not even around to say “ yay or nay” to the book! It’s a fictional book at best! We know the individuals who survived the flood because God names them! None! Not a one was a giant! None! What did Jesus tell the Pharisees about marriage in heaven and using the being of angelic creation? No marriage however more so “ like the Angel’s in heaven”! Meaning flat out “ no sex and no babies”! So it’s dead clear Angels do not mate with ppl ever! They were men of God who did bad things including taking any women they wanted ! Women who were from other tribes God had not Chosen ! ( the covenant with Abraham ). Like Dr John Barnet stated about these thing “ it sounds reasonable ; very reasonable ? Just not biblical”! Your off the reservation men!

[@ShirleyAnnPetrillo-oj7sc]

WHO is “the church” ? WHO gave “the church” the Authority to accept OR reject ?

[@zephyr1408]

@@ShirleyAnnPetrillo-oj7sc you hv to be familiar with your Bible otherwise it’s a lost cause to try an explain to someone who does not know Christ, understand the history of the Church , who established the Church , why thousands of yrs ago certain documents were subscribed to the old and New Testament ! The Church is Gods ppl (Read John 17 why they are here and who they belong to). Bottom line the 66 books as depicted in the Bible are it! Period ! Full stop! You can not ever ! Never! Convince a well versed man or women of God why some “book” belongs there! The Bible has withstood much tougher test than you could ever muster up, and withstood every single one over thousands of yrs ! It is a shinning example of the true word of God ! “I am the same yesterday, today, & forever”! “Heaven & Earth will pass away but the word of God will stand forever”! Matthew 24:35 & Hebrews 13:8 None ! Not one inch! Of that includes the book of Enoch! Or any other incorrect book! The Book of Enoch is “ok” but not scripture to be held as to the light of scripture! It’s neither inspired or holy text! If that disappoints you then you need to ask God why? Not any one created person? They did not choose ? Christ did!

[@davidjones8043]

🤣🤣🤣