Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
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THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson4,Chapter2continued
AswecontinuewithAmoschapter2today,Iwanttotakeamomenttolookback
on,andreview,thatfinalsectionoflastweek’slessonasitconcernsthematter
ofmoralityandtheexistenceofadivinelawcode.Thisissueiswoventhroughout
theBookofAmos,asitwasthroughoutourstudyontheBookofHosea.I
supposebringingthisissueupyetagainmightbemetbysomewhoarelistening
tothiswitheye-rollsanddroopyeyelids.I’llwarnyouinadvance,we’llnotfinish
withittoday,norwillweabandonthesubjectasweworkourwaythrough
severaloftheMinorProphetsbecausethetopicofmoralityasmeaning
obediencetotheMosaicCovenantisalwaysdeeplyembeddedintheirinspired
words.Ifthereisone,singleoverridingcausebehindtheweakeningofthe
ChristianChurchandofJudaism,andofthelossofmoraldirectionwithinour
world’ssocieties…withWesternsocietiesleadingtheway…itisthis:wehave
intentionallyignoredandevendiscardedtheonlyuniversalmorallawcodethat
haseverbeengiventomankind:TheLawofMoses.Untilthisisresolvedand
God’smorallawcodeisreinstitutedasfoundationaltotheChurch,Synagogue,
andoursocieties…tothedemiseofcenturiesofmanmadereligiousdoctrinesthat
arecontrarytoGod’swrittenlawsandcommands,thedownwardspiralofworld
eventsandthechaosweareenvelopedin,willonlyintensify.
Iamgoingtotakeamomenttoquotetoyouexcerptsofarecentarticlewritten
byBenShapirothataddressesthismatterfromaslightlydifferentangle.Itis
titled:“TheDeathofEternalTruthsandtheNewPaganism”.
Lastweek,PopeBenedictXVIdiedattheageof95...Hislifewasmarkedby
adherencetoabeliefinaneternaltruthaboveall.Ashestatedina2008meeting
withCatholiceducatorsattheCatholicUniversityofAmerica,"Truthmeansmore
thanknowledge:knowingthetruthleadsustodiscoverthegood...[W]eobserve,
withdistress,thenotionoffreedombeingdistorted.Freedomisnotanoptingout.
Itisanoptingin--aparticipationinBeingitself.Henceauthenticfreedomcan
neverbeattainedbyturningawayfromGod."….
Thereisatruth;thattruthmustbepursued;theonlysubstitutefortruthis
falsehood.Humanbeingshavesussedouteternaltruthsoverthecourseof
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
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millennia,andtodiscardthosetruthsinfavorofsubjectivismiscrippling.Those
eternaltruthsarerootedinthebeliefthatGodmadeusinHisimage;thatHe
grantedusrolesandresponsibilities;andthattruefreedomliesinmaking
choiceswithintheboundariesofthoserolesandresponsibilities…Whathappens
whenwediscardthosetruths?Disasterstrikes.First,welosebeliefinsomething
Higher;thenwelosebeliefinourselves.Weareseeingtheconsequencesofthis
two-stepprocessbeforeusinrealtime….
Civilizationally,thelossofinheritedwisdomandtraditionalvalueshasresultedin
new,ersatzgodstoworship…AstheWestlosesitslinkswithtraditionalwisdom,
itbreakslooseofitsphilosophicalmoorings.Theconsequenceswillbedire
unlessthosemooringsarereinforced.Andtheycanonlybereinforcedbythose
whohavethecouragetodefendeternaltruths--notmerelyhidebehindthe
toleranceofpluralism,arepositoryforthecowardiceofconservativeswho
correctlystandwithfreespeechbutincorrectlythinkthatstancesufficienttowin
theday.
Intheend,eitherthetruthwillwinout,oritwillbedestroyed.AsPopeBenedict
XVItoldtheBishopsoftheUnitedStatesin2012,"TheChurchintheUnited
Statesiscalled,inseasonandoutofseason,toproclaimaGospelwhichnotonly
proposesunchangingmoraltruthsbutproposesthempreciselyasthekeyto
humanhappinessandsocialprospering."Defendersoftraditionalvaluesofall
stripesarecalledtothesamequest.
Now;thequestionthatIsetbeforeusall,today,isthesameonethatGod’s
biblicalProphetsproposed:wheredoestruthcomefrom?IfitisfromGod,then
whoisitintendedfor?IsitonlyforIsrael,orperhapsthosefromanywhereand
everywherewhoworshiptheGodofIsrael?Or,isitforeveryhumanindividualto
follow…everyindividualthathasever,orwillever,live?TheBookofAmosopens
bydemonstratingthatsinceYehovehisGodoverallnationsandnotjustIsrael,
thenlogicallyHismoralcodeappliestoallmankindequallyregardlessofwhere
theymayreside,whatethnicitytheypossess,whatlanguagetheyspeak,orany
ofthemanyhumanculturaldifferencesandvariationsamongourselvesthat
mayexist.Whilethetruthissetdownforustoknow,itcomesfromonlyone
source…theBible.Themorallawsthatformthebasisofthattruth,whichis
giventousintheformofadivinelyconstructedwrittencodethatsets
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
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boundariesaroundhumanbehavioronearth…thatcodecomesfromonlyone
source,theLawofMosesthatiscontainedwithinthatsameBible.
Withthatfundamentalunderstandinginmind…anunderstandingthatisdeeply
controversialwithinChristianitybutoughtnottobe…letusresumeourstudyof
Amoschapter2.
RE-READAMOSCHAPTER2:6–end
ThisoracleagainstIsraelisthe8
th
andfinalofthe8oraclesofjudgmentset
againstcertainnamednationsthataredescribedascompletelyrebellious
againstGod.Thefirst6werepagangentilenations,thefinal2wereaboutGod’s
chosenandset-apartpeople,Israel,thatcurrentlywasadividednation.One
Israelitenation(kingdom)calledJudah,theotherIsraelitenation(kingdom)
calledEphraimoralternatelyEphraim/Israel.ThreegeneralcategoriesofIsrael’s
unfaithfulnessarelisted:socialinjustice,sexualimmoralityandimpurity,and
profaneandpervertedworshipofYehovehincludingtheirreligiousrituals.We’ve
alreadydiscussedthefirst2categories.The3
rd
category…pervertedworshipof
God…isalltheworsebecausesocialinjusticeisalsoemployedinthisworship
observance.Whatisdescribedinverse8isakintoourrobbingsomeone,and
thenthinkingitrighteousandgoodtotake10%ofthestolenmoneyandputting
itinthecollectionplateatChurch.
Inverse8,theIsraelitesareaccusedofusingclothes“takeninpledge”tolie
downoninfrontofeveryaltar.Theclothestakeninpledgeregardthecustomof
thewealthywholendmoneytothepoor.Quiteliterallytheoutergarmentofthe
poorwassometimestakenascollateralforashort-termloan(becausethat
garmentwasalltheyhadofvalue).Whileofitselfthispracticeisnotconsidered
assinorimmoral,theLawofMosesdoessetdownclearboundariesonhowthis
canoperate.
CJB
Exodus22:25-26
25
Ifyoutakeyourneighbor'scoatascollateral,youareto
restoreittohimbysundown,
26
becauseitishisonlygarment-heneedsitto
wraphisbody;whatelsedoeshehaveinwhichtosleep?Moreover,ifhecries
outtome,Iwilllisten;becauseIamcompassionate.
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
4/13
ThisAmospassagecontinuestohighlightthatallthecrimeslistedagainstGod
containedwithinthe8oraclesofjudgment,regardlessofwhichnation
committedthem,specificallyviolatesoneoranotheroftheLawsofMoses.The
othermattercontainedwithinthissamecomplaintisthatthosewealthyfewwho
areimmorallyholdingontothosegarmentsofthepoorascollateralareusing
themtosetbeforealtarstoYehoveh.Whatmakesitallthemoreegregiousis
thatthesealtarstheyareusingforworshipareallillegitimatealtars...they
shouldn’tevenexistsincetheLawofMosesonlyallowsasinglealtarandplace
forsacrifice:thealtarattheTempleinJerusalem.
Thenextmatter(stillinverse8)concernsdrinkingwineatthetempleoftheir
God.First,thetempleofworshipisnottheTempleinJerusalem,it’saboutother
templesthatwereerectedinEphraim/Israel.Second,thisisn’tspeakingabout
thelibationportionofeverysacrificialofferingthatnearlyalwaysincludedthe
requirementofwine,itisspeakingaboutthedrinkingboutsanddrunkenness
thatwastypicalatthealtarsandtemplesofpagangods…butnowincorporated
intoEphraim/Israel’spervertedworshipofYehoveh,GodofIsrael.Further,the
accusedusethemoneytheygainfromfinesforpettycrimesorevenloansbeing
paidbacklate,tobuythiswine.Thenotionoffines,here,isinthesamenotion
asourideaoffines,today.Thatis,theyarepenaltiesforvariousinfractionsof
laworcontractterms.However,biblicallyspeaking,theLawofMosesdidnot
condonetheideaoffinesaspenalties.Rathertheideawasofreparationsand
restitutiontomakeavictimwhole;notasameansofenrichinglocal
governmentsandliningthepocketsofthealreadywealthy.Therearenumerous
caseexamplescalledoutintheLawofMosesaboutthismatterofreparations;
herearetwoofthem:
CJB
Exodus21:18-19
18
"Iftwopeoplefight,andonehitstheotherwithastone
orwithhisfist,andtheinjuredpartydoesn'tdiebutisconfinedtohisbed;
19
then,
ifherecoversenoughtobeabletowalkaroundoutside,evenifwithacane,the
attackerwillbefreeofliability,excepttocompensatehimforhislossoftimeand
takeresponsibilityforhiscareuntilhisrecoveryiscomplete.
CJB
Exodus21:28-32
28
"Ifanoxgoresamanorawomantodeath,theoxisto
bestonedanditsfleshnoteaten,buttheowneroftheoxwillhavenofurther
liability.
29
However,iftheoxwasinthehabitofgoringinthepast,andthe
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
5/13
ownerwaswarnedbutdidnotconfineit,sothatitendedupkillingamanora
woman;thentheoxistobestoned,anditsownertooistobeputtodeath.
30
However,aransommaybeimposedonhim;andthedeathpenaltywillbe
commutedifhepaystheamountimposed.
31
Iftheoxgoresasonordaughter,
thesameruleapplies.
32
Iftheoxgoresamaleorfemaleslave,itsownermust
givetheirmastertwelveouncesofsilver;andtheoxistobestonedtodeath.
Again:NOTfines,butratherrestitutionorreparationstothevictim.
Let’smoveontoverse9.Herebeginsahistoricalretrospectiveonwhatitisthat
makesIsrael,Israel.Itbeginswithsomethingthatisactuallyratherintriguing
whenwebackawayandexamineitforwhatitactuallysuggests.
CJB
Amos2:9
9
"IdestroyedtheEmoribeforethem;thoughtallascedarsand
strongasoaks,Idestroyedtheirfruitaboveandtheirrootbelow.
EmoriisHebrewforAmorite;apeoplegroupwhoaresaidtobe“tallascedars
andstrongasoaks”.Whileitmightnotseemsoonthesurface,ifwetakethisfor
whatitistellingusitopensanuncomfortablecontroversythattheChurchhas
alternatelywrestledwithandthenavoidedliketheplagueeversincethe
formationofagentiledominatedChurchhappenedinRomeinthe4
th
century
A.D.Here’stheissueinthecontextofAmos2:9:whyaretheAmoritessingled
out?WeretheAmoritesREALLYtallascedarsandstrongasoaks”,orwasthisa
grossexaggeration?Andiftheyweremerelyunusuallytallandstrong,whydo
wefindthisspecificallyidentifiedasageneralcharacteristicoftheAmoriteswho
Godfoundonlyworthyofdestruction?Whatdoestheirsizehavetodowith
anything?Nowlet’sgotoanotherlevel:what,exactly,wasthebonethatGod
hadtopickwiththeAmorites?Thisisactuallynotrivialmatteranditdeserves
someattention.ThefirstplacewehearofthisdeterminationbyGodtoseverely
punishtheAmoriteswasinGenesis,intheformofaprophecy.
CJB
Genesis15:13-16
13
ADONAIsaidtoAvram,"Knowthisforcertain:your
descendantswillbeforeignersinalandthatisnottheirs.Theywillbeslavesand
heldinoppressiontherefourhundredyears.
14
ButIwillalsojudgethatnation,
theonethatmakesthemslaves.Afterwards,theywillleavewithmany
possessions.
15
Asforyou,youwilljoinyourancestorsinpeaceandbeburiedat
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
6/13
agoodoldage.
16
Onlyinthefourthgenerationwillyourdescendantscomeback
here,becauseonlythenwilltheEmoriberipeforpunishment."
What,exactly,hadtheAmoritesdonetobethetargetofGod’spunishment?It’s
notstated.Whythewaittopunishthem?It’sunclear.NextweseetheAmorites
listedasoneofseveralpeoplegroupsthatoperatedwithinvariouspartsof
Canaan,allmarkedbyGodfordestructionbecausethedangertheyposedto
Israelwasthattheirpervertedworshippracticeswouldrub-offonGod’schosen
andleadthemastray.
CJB
Deuteronomy20:17-18
17
Ratheryoumustdestroythemcompletely-the
Hitti,theEmori,theKena'ani,theP'rizi,theHiviandtheY'vusi-asADONAIyour
Godhasorderedyou;
18
sothattheywon'tteachyoutofollowtheirabominable
practices,whichtheydofortheirgods,thuscausingyoutosinagainstADONAI
yourGod.
Later,wereadofJoshuaencounteringtheAmoritesanddeeplyfearingthem.
CJB
Joshua7:7
7
Y'hoshuasaid,"Oh,AdonaiELOHIM!Whydidyoutakethe
troubletobringthispeopleacrosstheYardenifyoumeanttohandusovertothe
Emoriandhaveusperish?Weshouldhavebeensatisfiedtoliveontheotherside
oftheYarden!
So,anotherquestiongetsraised.WhyisJoshuasocertainthatshouldthe
Israelitesface-offagainsttheAmoritesthatIsraelwillloseandbedestroyed?
EarlierintheTorah,wefindaninterestingpassagethatconcernsthe12spies
thatweresentouttoscoutthelandofCanaanbeforeMosesandJoshualed
Israeltoenterit.ThisnarrativeappearsinNumbers13.Thebottomlineisthat
whilesomeofthespiesspokeofhowthelandissoverygoodandworththe
taking,anothergroupofthespiessaidthis:
CJB
Numbers13:31-33
31
Butthemenwhohadgonewithhimsaid,"Wecan't
attackthosepeople,becausetheyarestrongerthanweare";
32
andtheyspread
anegativereportaboutthelandtheyhadreconnoiteredforthepeopleofIsra'el
bysaying,"Thelandwepassedthroughinordertospyitoutisalandthat
devoursitsinhabitants.Allthepeoplewesawthereweregiant!
33
Wesawthe
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
7/13
N'filim,thedescendantsof'Anak,whowasfromtheN'filim;toourselveswe
lookedlikegrasshoppersbycomparison,andwelookedthatwaytothemtoo!"
WhatwefindisthatthesespiessaythattheLandofCanaanisfullofgiants.Is
theirdescriptionaccurate?Doesitreflectreality?Orisitmerelyhyperbole
becausetheywantedtoavoidbattle?Further,wegetthesecrypticwordsthat
thehugementheyclaimedtohaveseenwereassociatedwithsomethingcalled
theNephilim.ItseemsthatsomeelementoftheAmoriteswasalsoconnected
withtheNephilimandthismayhavehadmuchtodowithwhyGodwantedthe
Amoritesdestroyed.So,thereisadeepmysteryherethatneedstobeexplored,
perhapssolved,andnowisasgoodatimeasanytopauseanddojustthat.
We’renowgoingtodetourfromourstudyofAmosforatimetodelveintothese
Nephilimandthesegiantmen…includingAmorites…thatweresaidtobetallas
cedars.Thisexplorationwillcontinuepasttodayandatleastintothenextlesson.
Iopenthiscanofwormsbecauseithasmuchtodowithproperlyunderstanding
notonlycertainstrangestatementsmadeinboththeOldandNew
Testaments…statementsthatarerealhead-scratchersandseematfirstglance
tobelongtofolkloreratherthantobiblicaltruth…butalsoinordertopeelback
thelayersofhistoricalHebrewcontextthatformsthebackgroundforthemany
biblicalwritingsthatweplacesomuchtrustinastruth.I’llstartwithapremise
thatcan(admittedly)beabitchallengingtowrapourmindsaround,butIassure
youitcanbegraspedby,anditiscrucialfor,everytruthseekerandBible
studenttounderstand.ItisthateverywriteroftheBiblewroteandinterpreted
GodandHiscommands,andalsotheworldeventstheyeitherwitnessedor
prophesiedabout,throughthelensoftheirownhistoricalculturalunderstanding,
traditions,andnorms.Thatis,thebiblicalwritersformedtheirideasand
sentencesandchosecertainwordsbecausesubconsciouslytheybelievedthat
theworldoperatedacertainway,whichtheytookforgranted.Anditwas
assumedthatthehearerorreaderoftheirwritingswouldbeofthesameculture
asthewriter;therefore,thereaderswould,ofcourse,holdthesamecultural
viewpoints.Thesewereviewpointsthatneedednoexplanationbecausethey
wereself-evidentand/ortheirparticularcultureheldtheseviewpointsas
immutableandasembeddedbeliefsthathadlongagobeensettled.Letmegive
youanillustrationofwhatImean.
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
8/13
InmodernAmerica,awriterofabookoranarticle,orevenacommonperson
havinganeverydayconversation,mighttalkaboutvoting.Exactlywhatvotingis,
whatitmeans,wheretheconceptofvotingoriginated,whyvotingwaseven
madepartofoursystemofgoverning,andhowitgenerallyworkedisnot
includedinthediscussionbecauseitisconsideredcommonknowledge;noneed
toexplainit.Wemerelyuttertheword“voting”andacommonmentalpicture
betweenthewriterandreaderisformed,andwemoveon.Votingisbutoneof
themanyaspectsofourAmericancultureandlifethat,evenifwedon’tcorrectly
understandthetechnicalnuancesofthevotingprocess,wefeellikewe
sufficientlydosowedon’tseekinformationorinputaboutit,nordowechallenge
thenotionofitsexistenceinanyway...itjustis.ThewritersoftheBiblewerethe
sameconcerningmattersoftheirownculture...somethingsjustwere.Our
challengeasmodernBelieversistodiscoverwhatthoseancientHebrewcultural
mindsetswere,andtotrytounearththoseunspoken(butdeeplybelieved)
thoughtsandbackgroundunderstandingsthatboundthemtogetherasasociety
ofHebrews,becausewhatevertheyintendedthosewordsthattheywrotedown
tocommunicateishowwearetounderstandthem,otherwisewefindourselves
misunderstandingwhatismeant,whichcanonlyleadtomisapplicationofbiblical
principlesoreventoentirelyincorrectknowledgeofthebasicdefinitionsofthe
biblicalprinciplesthemselves.
InthisexplorationI’mgoingtorelyheavilyonthewritingsofAmarAnnusthat
concernshowMesopotamiansocietiesfarmoreancientthanIsraelhadtheideas
ofcertainhistoricaleventsembeddedintotheirtraditions,andalsohowwefind
thosesameideasappearinginthetraditionsofIsraelitesocietyatalatertime.
I’malsogoingtoleanontheworkofDr.MichaelHeiserwhodealsprimarilywith
ancientHebrewrecordedthoughtconcerningtraditionsandbeliefsandwhere
theycamefrom.ThereareotherwritersI’veresearchedtoaddotherdimensions
tothisdiscussion,butAnnusandHeiserformperhapsthebulkofmy
understandingastheirworks,takentogether,arethemostarticulateand
thorough;and(Iassess)theyareamongthemoreintellectuallyhonestandleast
pronetodoctrinalinfluencesthatcan(andusuallydo)obfuscatethebiblicalfacts,
dismissthedifficultandupsettingpassages,andmuddythewatersofproper
interpretation.Whatthisexplorationisgoingtorevolvearoundisgainingan
understandingthatleadsbackintimetoalittle-knowngroupofcreaturesthat
theancientscalledtheWatchers.TheWatchersarementionedinextra-biblical
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
9/13
Hebrewworks,nonemoreprominentthan1Enoch.Iwanttosayattheoutset
thatImakenoclaimthatthesecreaturesnecessarilyexisted,noriftheydidthat
thetraditionsandbeliefshandeddownaboutthemandtheiroffspringarefully
accurate.RatherI’msayingthattheHebrewpeopleofthemanybiblicaleras
believedthesetraditions…asdidfolksofotherculturesmuchmoreancientthan
Israel’s…asdidmostoralloftheOldandNewTestamentwritersbecausesuch
beliefswereinherenttotheirculture.Thisrealityoughtnotbeterriblydifficultfor
ustoaccept.Afterall,virtuallyallthewritersoftheTanakh(theOldTestament)
acceptedasundeniablefactthatthereweremultiplegodsinexistencebecause
this,too,wasinherentnotonlyintheirculturaltraditions,butinvirtuallyall
culturaltraditions.So,whenthereismentionof“othergods”intheBible,asfar
asthebiblicalwriterswereconcernedtheywerestatingobjectivereality.They
wereincorrect,ofcourse,butitwaswhattheysincerelybelievedandthought
wasso.Therefore,thethreadsofthesebeliefsweredeeplyembeddedintheir
thoughts,someofwhichwentontoshowupinHolyScripture.
AgoodstartingpointisGenesis6:1–4.
CJB
Genesis6:1-4Intime,whenmenbegantomultiplyonearth,anddaughters
wereborntothem,
2
thesonsofGodsawthatthedaughtersofmenwere
attractive;andtheytookwivesforthemselves,whomevertheychose.
3
ADONAI
said,"MySpiritwillnotliveinhumanbeingsforever,fortheytooareflesh;
thereforetheirlifespanistobe120years."
4
TheN'filimwereontheearthin
thosedays,andalsoafterwards,whenthesonsofGodcameintothedaughters
ofmen,andtheyborechildrentothem;theseweretheancientheroes,menof
renown.
Werewetocontinuereading,wewouldseethatimmediatelytheFloodstory
begins.So,theFlood(andthereasonsforit)hadtodowiththatwrittenin
Genesis6:1-4.LetmebeclearwhatI’msaying:theseversesIreadarebuta
preamble…perhapsanintroduction…totheFloodstory.TheFloodhappenedin
ordertodealwiththeproblemthatisspokenofinthefirst4versesofGenesis
chapter6.
Tobegintountanglethistopicandhopefullytorestoreunderstanding,wemust
discoverwhatandwhothese“sonsofGod”werethatcameintothedaughtersof
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
10/13
men.Toputitfrankly,thisissayingthatthesesonsofGodhadsexualrelations
withsomebeautifuldaughtersofmen,andchildrenwerebornfromit.Infact,
someoftheseoffspringbecameancientheroesandwerehighlyrenowned…for
somethingthatisn’treallystated.So,theimmediatequestionis:werethese
sonsofGodheavenlybeingsorweretheymerelyhumansjustlikethose
daughtersofmentheymatedwith?Eversincethe4
th
centurytheChristian
ChurchhasdecidedthatthesesonsofGodarehumanmenofthelineofpeople
emanatingfromSeth,AdamandEven’ssonwhowasbornaftertheirolderson
AbelwasmurderedbyhisbrotherCain.Thisso-calledSethiteTheological
principlehasnobiblicalevidencewhatsoevertobackitup.NothinginScripture
saysthatSethwasnottohaveawifenorthatthosedescendantsofSethwereto
havenomarriagewiththosepeoplecomingfromthelinesofCainorAbel.
Further,whenitcomestotheactualbiblicalusageoftheterm“sonofGod”as
indicatinganactualhumanbeing,italwayshadtodowithaKingofIsrael.Prior
totheeraofIsrael’skings,itwasmeantinadifferentcontext.Thereferencewas
toheavenlybeings…whatwecouldlooselycallangels.Herearesomeexamples
ofthisusetakenfromafewBibleexcerpts.
CJB
Job1:6IthappenedonedaythatthesonsofGodcametoserveADONAI,
andamongthemcametheAdversary
CJB
Job38:1-7ThenADONAIansweredIyovoutofthestorm:
2
"Whoisthis,
darkeningmyplanswithhisignorantwords?
3
Standuplikeaman,andbrace
yourself;Iwillaskquestions;andyou,givetheanswers!
4
"Wherewereyou
whenIfoundedtheearth?Tellme,ifyouknowsomuch.
5
Doyouknowwho
determineditsdimensionsorwhostretchedthemeasuringlineacrossit?
6
On
whatwereitsbasessunk,orwholaiditscornerstone,
7
whenthemorningstars
sangtogether,andallthesonsofGodshoutedforjoy?
CJB
Psalm82:1-8ApsalmofAsaf:Elohim[God]standsinthedivineassembly;
therewiththeelohim[judges],hejudges:
2
"Howlongwillyougoonjudging
unfairly,favoringthewicked?(Selah)
3
Givejusticetotheweakandfatherless!
Upholdtherightsofthewretchedandpoor!
4
Rescuethedestituteandneedy;
deliverthemfromthepowerofthewicked!"
5
Theydon'tknow,theydon't
understand,theywanderaboutindarkness;meanwhile,allthefoundationsof
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
11/13
theeartharebeingundermined.
6
"Mydecreeis:'Youareelohim[gods,judges],
sonsoftheMostHighallofyou.
7
Nevertheless,youwilldielikemortals;likeany
prince,youwillfall.'"
8
Riseup,Elohim,andjudgetheearth;forallthenations
areyours.
Noticethewords“youareelohim”,“sonsoftheMostHigh”.Then,welearnthat
thesesonsoftheMostHigharecursedto“dielikemortals”.Obviously,these
beingswerenotsupposedtodie,butbecauseofsomethingtheydidwrong,they
werecursedwithdeath.Clearlyitisheavenlybeingsthatarebeingdescribed.
Thus,inGenesis6:1-4,whatisbeingaddressedisthatthesesonsofelohimare
heavenlybeings…sometypeofangelorangel-likecreature…andtheirnature
andsubstanceissetincontrasttothedaughtersofmenwhoarehumanbeings.
Itwasheavenlybeingswhocametoearthandhadsexualrelationswithhuman
women,theoffspringofwhichwassometypeofhybridbeingthatnolonger
properlyfitineithertheheavenlyortheearthlysphere.Thisjoiningofangeland
humanwasaviolationofNaturalLaw.IntheLawofMoses,improperjoiningis
definedasillicitmixing.Thatis,twodifferenttypesarenottobemixedtogether.
Thus,weseebiblicalcommandmentsagainsttwotypesofthreadbeingusedto
makeagarment:onetypecomingfromanimals(wool),andtheothertype
comingfromplants(linen).Wealsoseethattwodifferenttypesofseedarenot
tobeplantednexttooneanotheronthechancethattheirrootsmightbecome
entangledandthusjoinedtogether.ThereareotherillicitmixingsthatintheNew
Testamentaresometimesreferredtoas“unequalyoking”.Theseheavenly
beingsofGenesiscrossedaboundarythatwasnevertobecrossed.The
heavenlyrealmgotmixedwiththehuman/physicalrealmwhentheseheavenly
beingscameintohumanwomenandproducedoffspring.Nowapervertedhybrid
wasformed…anditwasoftenpowerful,large,andevil.
OtherpartsoftheBiblespeakaboutthiscatastrophiceventindifferentways;
eventheApostlePeterbringsitup.
CJB
2Peter2:1-9Butamongthepeopletherewerealsofalseprophets,justas
therewillbefalseteachersamongyou.Underfalsepretensestheywillintroduce
destructiveheresies,evendenyingtheMasterwhoboughtthem,andthusbring
onthemselvesswiftdestruction.
2
Manywillfollowtheirdebaucheries;and
becauseofthem,thetrueWaywillbemaligned.
3
Intheirgreedtheywillexploit
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
12/13
youwithfabricatedstories.Theirpunishment,decreedlongago,isnotidle;their
destructionisnotasleep!
4
ForGoddidnotsparetheangelswhosinned;onthe
contrary,heputthemingloomydungeonslowerthanSh'oltobeheldfor
judgment.
5
Andhedidnotsparetheancientworld;onthecontrary,he
preservedNoach,aheraldofrighteousness,withsevenothers,andbroughtthe
Flooduponaworldofungodlypeople.
6
AndhecondemnedthecitiesofS'dom
and'Amora,reducingthemtoashesandruin,asawarningtothoseinthefuture
whowouldliveungodlylives;
7
butherescuedLot,arighteousmanwhowas
distressedbythedebaucheryofthoseunprincipledpeople;
8
forthewicked
deedswhichthatrighteousmansawandheard,ashelivedamongthem,
tormentedhisrighteousheartdayafterday.
9
SotheLordknowshowtorescue
thegodlyfromtrialsandhowtoholdthewickeduntiltheDayofJudgmentwhile
continuingtopunishthem,
NoticehowPeterspeaksof“theangelswhosinned”,andhowGodputthemin
gloomydungeonsONEARTH(moreprecisely,someplaceevenlowerinthe
groundthanthegrave).WhoaretheseangelswhosinnedthatPeterspeaksof?
Isthismerelyacollectionofangelswho,individuallyandoverlongtimespans,
eachcommittedvariousoffensesthatresultedintheirimprisonment?Notlikely.
Peter’s“angelswhosinned”canbenoneotherthanthosesonsofGodweread
aboutinGenesis6.AndnoticehowimmediatelyPeterfollowsthatcommentwith
theFloodstory,justasdoesGenesis6.Theconnectionisremarkable.
Here'syetanotherNewTestamentpassagetoconsider:
CJB
Jude1:1-6From:Y'hudah,aslaveofYeshuatheMessiahandabrotherof
Ya'akovTo:Thosewhohavebeencalled,whoarelovedbyGodtheFatherand
keptforYeshuatheMessiah:
2
Maymercy,loveandshalombeyoursinfull
measure.
3
Dearfriends,Iwasbusilyatworkwritingtoyouaboutthesalvation
weshare,whenIfounditnecessarytowrite,urgingyoutokeepcontending
earnestlyforthefaithwhichwasonceandforallpassedontoGod'speople.
4
For
certainindividuals,theoneswrittenaboutlongagoasbeingmeantforthis
condemnation,havewormedtheirwayin-ungodlypeoplewhopervertGod's
graceintoalicensefordebaucheryanddisownouronlyMasterandLord,Yeshua
theMessiah.
5
Sinceyoualreadyknowallthis,mypurposeisonlytoremindyou
thatADONAI,whooncedeliveredthepeoplefromEgypt,laterdestroyedthose
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
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whodidnottrust.
6
Andtheangelsthatdidnotkeepwithintheiroriginal
authority,butabandonedtheirpropersphere,hehaskeptindarkness,bound
witheverlastingchainsfortheJudgmentoftheGreatDay.
So,Judealsowritesaboutatopicthatwaswellknownfromthemostancient
pastoftheHebrews;itisthattherewereanglesthatabandonedtheirproper
sphereofexistenceinGod’sHeavenandcamedowntoearth,anddidsomething
horrendouslywrongthatJudedoesn’tspecificallymentionbecauseevery
Hebrewalreadyknewwhatitwas;itwasbuiltintotheircultureandtradition.
Theseheavenlybeings’propersphereisHeaven,butinrebelliontheycame
downtoearthbecausetheywereattractedtohumanfemales.AndwhatdidGod
dowiththem?JudesaysthatGodboundtheminchains…UNTILJudgmentDay.
Whatisinterestingisthatwhilein2PetervirtuallyeveryEnglishtranslation
avoidsusingtheword,andinsteadsubstituteshellordungeonorsomesuch
thing,PeterliterallysaystheyarebeingheldcaptiveinaplacecalledTartarus
untilthetimeofjudgment(TartarusisanothernamefortheAbyssofthe
demons).LetmesumupwhatI’vetoldyoutothispoint:ithadalwaysbeen
embeddedinIsraelitehistoryaboutamysteriouseventthatchangedthecourse
ofhumanhistory,andithappenedbeforetheHebrewsexistedasaseparate
peoplegroup…evenbeforeNoah’sFlood.AngelsdisobeyedGod,lefttheirown
sphere,camedownthesphereofhumanityandimpregnatedhumanwomen.
Now,someofthese(andtheiroffspring)areimprisonedsomeplaceonearth;a
placeenvisionedasdeepunderground…theAbyss.
Let’sopenthiscanofwormsabitmore.InthatpassageofGenesis6:1–4,we
readoftheNephilimwhowerearoundduringtheFlood.Theobviousreadingof
thispassageisthattheresultantoffspringoftherebelliousangelbeingsandthe
humanwomenweresomethingcalledNephilim.Thismeanstheangelswould
havetohavecrossed-overtheboundariesbetweenHeavenandearth,donned
humanflesh,andthenprocreatedwithhumanfemales.Whilethisistheplain
reading,theproblemisthattheChurchhistoricallyhasnotbeenabletostomach
suchanotionasangelshavingsexwithhumans,orevenbeingcapableofdoing
so.TheChurchreferstoMatthew22:30astheirsourceforthisbelief.
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Matthew22:30
30
ForintheResurrection,neithermennorwomenwillmarry;
rather,theywillbelikeangelsinheaven.
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
14/13
ThisGospelpassageneveraddressestheissueofoffspringinanyway;nordoes
itapproachtheideaofangelshaving,ornothaving,anabilitytohavesexual
relations.ItisbelievedaccordingtomostChristiantraditions,butnotconfirmed
Scripturally,thateveryangelisanindividually,divinelycreatedbeing.Whiletrue
thattheBibledefinestheprimarypurposeofhumanmarriageasprocreationof
ourspecies,thisinnowayaddressestheability(orinability)ofangelicbeingsto
procreateifgivenanopportunity.LetmesayoutrightthattheancientHebrews
wouldhavehadnoissuewiththenotionthatheavenlybeingscametoearthand
wereabletohavesexualrelationswithhumanfemalesiftheyso
chose…regardlessofthewrongnessofsuchanact.
Further,weindeedhaveseveralexamplesintheBibleofangels…orsometypeof
heavenlybeings…comingtoearthandhavingphysicalbodies.Oneortwomet
withAbrahamandevenateamealwithhim.Twoquitevisibleangelsphysically
grabbedholdofLottosavehimfromasavagecrowdinSodom.Jacobwrestled
forhourswithaheavenlybeinginphysicalform.Weevenreadthatangels
ministeredtoYeshua.AsHeiserjokinglystates:“Surelythismeansmorethan
angelsfloatingaroundbeforeJesus’face!”
Genesis6tellsusthattheNephilim…thesehybridoffspringofangelsand
humans…wereonearthbothbeforeandaftertheFlood.Thatis,somenumber
ofthem,somehowinsomeformoranother,survivedTheGreatDeluge.
ReturningtoNumbers13recallwhatverses32&33said:
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Numbers13:31-33
31
Butthemenwhohadgonewithhimsaid,"Wecan't
attackthosepeople,becausetheyarestrongerthanweare";
32
andtheyspread
anegativereportaboutthelandtheyhadreconnoiteredforthepeopleofIsra'el
bysaying,"Thelandwepassedthroughinordertospyitoutisalandthat
devoursitsinhabitants.Allthepeoplewesawthereweregiant!
33
Wesawthe
N'filim,thedescendantsof'Anak,whowasfromtheN'filim;toourselveswe
lookedlikegrasshoppersbycomparison,andwelookedthatwaytothemtoo!"
ThespiessenttoscoutouttheLandofCanaanpersonallyencounteredthese
giants,calledthemNephilim,andsaidtheyweredescendantsofAnak(thetribe
ofGoliath),whothemselvesweredescendedfromearlierNephilim.So,the
Lesson4-AmosChapter2continued
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existenceandrealityoftheNephilimandthewaytheycameintobeingwas
commonknowledge.Thosescoutshadtohaveknownoftheexistenceof
NephilimbeforeIsraeleverleftEgyptotherwisetheywouldn’thaveknownwhat
theywereorhowtoidentifythem.It’sjustthatitsurprisedtheIsraelitesthatat
leastsomeofthemlivedintheLandofCanaanandshoweduphavinginfiltrated
anumberoftribesthatlivedthere.ItseemsthattheNephilimhadespecially
becomeadominantpartoftheAmorites.
We’rejusttouchingthetipoftheWatchers,andtheNephilim,iceberg.Next
weekwewillcontinueourexplorationofthisfascinatingtopicandbeginto
incorporateinformationfromtheBookof1Enoch,andseehowthismattersso
muchtoproperbiblicalunderstandingandinterpretation.