Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
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THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson5,Chapter2continued2
Inourpreviouslesson,weparkedourselvesforatimeatverse9ofAmos
chapter2thatreads:
CJB
Amos2:9
9
"IdestroyedtheEmori(theAmorites)beforethem;thoughtall
ascedarsandstrongasoaks,Idestroyedtheirfruitaboveandtheirrootbelow.
Acasualreadingofthisverseseemsasthoughitisverystraightforward
informationthathastodowithakeyeventintheearlyformationofthenationof
Israel.Or,asImentionedlasttime,ithelpstodefinewhat,inGod’seyes,makes
Israeluniqueamongthenations…whatmakesIsrael,Israel.Yet,whatthisleads
tois:justhowwearetounderstandwhytheAmoritesweresingledoutfor
destruction,andwhatisthiscommentaboutthembeing“tallascedarsand
strongasoaks”?Obviouslytheircomparisontocedarsandoaksisametaphor,
butjustasclearlyitwasthesheerphysicalsizeoftheAmoritesthatwasan
identifyingfeatureofthem.So,wasmerelybeingverylargemanabadorevil
thinginitself?
So,welookedbackinbiblicalhistorytothetimeoftheexodusfromEgypt,when,
approachingthePromisedLand,Mosessent12spiesintotheLandofCanaanand
2ofthespiescamebackwithastoryofthelandbeingfullofgiants,implyingthat
Israelhadnochanceagainstthem.Wasthisuseoftheword“giants”onlya
wildlyexaggeratedculturalexpressionthatactuallyspokeofformidableand
skilledwarriorsthatinhabitedCanaan?Or…werethereliterallyphysicallygiant
menthatinhabitedthisregion?Notfee-fi-fo-fumgiantsthatwere40feettall,
butratherunnaturallylargeandpowerfulmenthatwereaheadandshoulders
tallerandbiggerthanatypicalhumanmale?Assumingitwasonlythatthese
werereallybigmen,whydidthespiesalsocallthemNephilim?Howdidthe
IsraelitesknowbeforetheyeverleftEgyptthatsomethingcalledNephilim
existed,althoughtheyseemedgenuinelysurprisedtofindsomeofthemin
Canaan?Thatthenleadsusto:whatareNephilim,wheredidtheycomefrom,
andaretheymostlyancientmythorweretheyreal?
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
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WefoundthemysteriousNephilimfirstmentionedintheBibleinGenesischapter
6.
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.
Tomakemattersevenmoremysterious,thisGenesis6passagespeaksof“sons
ofGod”lookingupon“daughtersofmen”whowereirresistiblyattractivetothem,
sothesesonsofGodmadewivesofthesewomenandhadchildrenwiththem.
Theresultantoffspringbecame(inEnglish)“heroes”and“menofrenown”.What
intheworlddoesthatmean?“Heroes”ismoreoftentranslatedfromtheHebrew
into“mightymen”,anditcomesfromtheoriginalHebrewofthispassage,which
isgibbor(ormoreliterally,itisinthepluralsoitisgibborim).Thetruthisthat
thetermgibborimisnotwellunderstood,andsotherearevariousmeanings
attachedasmoreorlessbestguesses.Whatcanbegathered,however,isthat
thesewereunusualmen…physicallypowerfulmenwithspecialskillsandeven
withspecialknowledge…thatwerequitedifferentfromothertypicalmales.In
fact,attimesgibboristranslatedtomeangiants.
Buttheothertantalizingissueaboutthispassage…onethatissimplybypassed
innearlyalltheologicaldiscussionsaboutGenesis6:1–4…isthatitis
unambiguouslyconnectedtothereasonthatGodcausedtheGreatFlood.Notice
theflowofactionaboutthesemysterioussonsofGod,theNephilimandthe
Flood.
CJB
Genesis6:4-8
4
TheN'filimwereontheearthinthosedays,andalso
afterwards,whenthesonsofGodcameintothedaughtersofmen,andthey
borechildrentothem;theseweretheancientheroes,menofrenown.
5
ADONAI
sawthatthepeopleonearthwereverywicked,thatalltheimaginingsoftheir
heartswerealwaysofevilonly.
6
ADONAIregrettedthathehadmade
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
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humankindontheearth;itgrievedhisheart.
7
ADONAIsaid,"Iwillwipeout
humankind,whomIhavecreated,fromthewholeearth;andnotonlyhuman
beings,butanimals,creepingthingsandbirdsintheair;forIregretthatIever
madethem."
8
ButNoachfoundgraceinthesightofADONAI.
Thatis,theexistenceoftheNephilim,apparentlytheoff-springofthesonsof
Godwhohadmatedwithhumanwomen,directlyledtowantonevilovercoming
allmankind,eventothepointthatitsomehowinfectedtheanimalkingdom.
God’ssolutionwastopurgetheearthwithaGreatDeluge.Strangestory.
Lastweekwediscussedhow,beginningwiththecreationofgentileChristianity
inRomeinthe4
th
centuryA.D.,achurchdoctrinewascreatedthatexplainedthis
passageasmeaningthatthehumansonsofAdamandEve’ssonSeth(called
sonsofGod)marriedfemaleswhowerenotofSeth’sbloodline(thewerethe
daughtersofmen).Whilethereisutterlynotashredofbiblicalevidencetoback
thisup,thedoctrinewascreatedbecausetheChurchleadershipcouldn’taccept
thealternative:thatthesonsofgodweresometypeofdivinebeingswhocame
downfromheaventoearth,andhadsexualrelationswithnormalhumanwomen,
whichthenproducedsometypeofhybridoffspring.Whythereluctancetoaccept
this?BecauseitwouldhavedestroyedanotherestablishedChurchdoctrinethat
saysthatangelscouldnotdonhumanflesh,nordidtheyhavetheabilityto
procreateinHeaven(andtherefore,neithercouldtheyonearth).DoestheBible
backthatup?No.Itcamepurelyfromthemindsofmen.Andthis,folks,isthe
resultofJudaismandChristianityturningtomanmadedoctrinesandtraditions
foritsfoundationalbeliefs,supersedingandignoringwhattheHolyScriptures
actuallysay.Onedoctrinebuildsuponthenext;andwhenanewissuearisesthat
needsexplanation,theanswerMUSTbecarefulnottochallengeorinterferewith
olderdoctrines.TheanswerMUSTfitwithalltheearlierdoctrines,evenifit
seemsludicrous.
Thus,inourpreviouslessonweembarkedonaratherdeepexplorationofthe
identityoftheseNephilimandalsoofsomethingcalledTheWatchers.Wedonot
findtheterm“Watchers”perseintheBible.But,wedofinditinotherhighly
valuedJewishreligiousliteraturefromboththe1
st
centuryA.D.ANDthe1
st
centuryB.C.,andevenslightlyearlier.So,theNephilimandTheWatchers
becameanembeddedpartofJewishculturalbeliefsbythattime;theysimply
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
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tookitforgrantedasrealandtrue.WhatmakesthisimportantforweBelievers
ofthe21
st
centuryisthatthisbeliefactuallyshowsupnotonlyinOldTestament
passages(asinAmos2:9)butalsoinNewTestamentpassages(suchasin
2Peter2andinJude1).However,becauseoftheseoldandunchallengedChurch
doctrines,wementallyfilteroutthesementionsofNephilim,TheWatchers,and
fallenangelsandreadrightoverthemtakinglittlenotice.
BecauseacorebeliefofTorahClassisthatinterpretingBiblepassagesoutsideof
thecontextofthepassagessurroundingit,oroutsideofthehistoricalrealitiesof
thevariousBibleerasandcharacters,candolittletoproperlyinformusofdivine
truth,thenforaccuracy’ssakewemustalsoincludeinthedefinitionofthenotion
of“context”theunspokenbeliefsdeeplyembeddedinthemindsandthoughtsof
thosewhowrotetheBible.AsseriousstudentsofGod’sWordwemustnever
mentallypicturethecontentofHolyScriptureascomingfromGodinthesense
ofitbeinglikeadownloadedfile,sentfromheaven,andsupernaturallyplaced
intothemindsofspeciallyselectedhumanmenonearth.Andthenthese
humanmenmerelyopeningthatfileintheirsubconsciousmindandcopyingthe
contentofitontoparchment,withoutnecessarilyunderstandingwhattheywere
writing.Behavingsortoflikeparrotsthathavejustenoughabilitytovocalizeand
mimicafewhumanwordstheyhear,butwithnounderstandingofwhatthose
wordsmean.Ratheritisthatcertaindivinely-chosenhumanmen…allbuta
couplebeingHebrews…weregivendivineinspirationtowritedown…mostlyin
theirownwords…truthsofHeaven.OnlysometimesintheBiblewillwefind
directoraclesfromGodthatareinfactGod’sdirectwordsthatmaynothave
beenfullyunderstoodbythewriter;however,thattendstooccurprimarily
amongGod’sProphets.Prophetsalwaysmadeitclearintheirwritingswhenit
wasGod’sdirectwordstheywerequotingandnottheirownthoughts.Butthe
vastbulkofallthepropheticbooksconsistofthewordsandthoughtsofthe
humanprophet(howeverinspired).Andthosethoughtswerelogicallyalways
formedwithintheunderstandingandcommonknowledgeoftheirownHebrew
culture.Remember:noneoftheseOldTestamentwritersthoughttheywere
recordingthesewordsforanyonetoreadandapplyotherthanforpeoplefrom
theirownHebrewculture,andforthemostpart(butnotentirely)itwasthe
samefortheNewTestamentwriters.AHebrewculturewithacommonbeginning
andhistoryandtraditionsthatwereknownandhandeddowngenerationto
generation.Therefore,thatwhichwasconsideredcommonknowledgewould
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
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simplybestatedbythebiblicalwritersasfact,butnotfurtherexplainedor
definedas(intheirminds)therewouldhavebeennoneed;theirHebrewreaders
naturallyknewwhattheywerereferringto.ThestoryofTheWatchersandthe
Nephilimfallwithinthecategoryofcommonknowledgenotonlywithinthe
ancientHebrewculture,butalsowithinmanyotherancientculturesofthepagan
world,someexistingfarearlierthanwhenGodfirstcreatedandseparatedouta
groupofpeoplecalledHebrewsfromtherestoftheworld.
Allinall,Iunderstandthatitishighlyunlikelythatmanyyouhaveeverreador
heardmuchifanythingaboutwhatitisweareexploringatthemoment.
Therefore,we’llcontinuetodaywiththisexplorationthatIhopewillenlighten
yourunderstandingoftheBibleandtheimmutabletruthsitgivestoustoliveby.
So,hangintherewithmebecauseIthinkbythetimewe’vecompletedit,you’ll
begladyoudid.
OK.LasttimewetalkedagreatdealabouttheNephilim;thisweekwe’llbeginto
incorporatethestoryofTheWatchers.Inordertodothatafewthingsneedtobe
saidfirst.Tostart,wefindthatwithintheJewishculturalworldofthe2
nd
and1
st
centuriesB.C.,itwastheBookof1EnochwherethetermTheWatchersfirst
appears.Now,don’tstartfranticallysearchinginyourBible’sTableofContents
foritbecauseyouwon’tfinditthere(atleastyouwon’tinmostBibles).Rather,
muchlikethe15booksoftheApocryphathatwerewrittenbyancientJews
(someofwhichareincludedintheBiblesofsomedenominationsand
denominationalbranchesofChristianity),sowereanumberofJewishreligious
workscalledPseudepigraphacreatedandtakenveryseriouslybyJewish
scholars,sages,andreligiousleadersinthe1
st
centuriesB.C.andA.D.
TheApocryphaisaselectionofancientbooksthatfoundtheirwayintosome
ChristianBibleversions;forinstance,wefindthemintheoriginal1611King
JamesBible.TheseapocryphalbookswerepositionedbetweentheOldandNew
Testaments(italsocontainedmapsandgenealogies).TheApocryphawasan
officialpartoftheKJVfor274yearsuntilbeingremovedin1885A.D.Aportion
ofthesebookswerecalleddeuterocanonicalbooksbysomeentities,suchasby
theCatholicchurch.ManychurchauthoritiesclaimedtheApocryphashould
neverhavebeenincludedintheChristianBibleinfirstplace,raisingdoubtabout
itsvalidityonthegroundsthatitwasnotGod-inspired.OtherChristianreligious
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
6/13
authoritiesbelieveitisvalidandthatitshouldneverhavebeenremovedonthe
groundsthatitwasconsideredalegitimatepartoftheBibleformanycenturies
beforeitwasrecentlyremovedalittlemorethan100yearsago.
Ontheotherhand,Pseudepigrapha…whichmeansfalselyattributed…were
attributedtoauthorswhodidnotactuallywritethem(thisrealityisnotdoubted).
ThiskindofliteraturewaswidespreadinGreco-Romanantiquity-inJewish,
Christian,andpagancirclesalike.SomePseudepigraphicbookswereattributed
topaganauthors,whileotherswerenameafterarangeofbiblicalpersonalities
suchasAdam,Noah,Abraham,Moses,Elijah,Enoch,orseveralothers.The
PseudepigrapharesembletheApocryphaingeneralliterarycharacter,yetunlike
theApocryphatheyhadneverbeenincludedintheBibleorinrabbinicliterature
oreverofficiallydeemedinspiredofGod.
AlltheApocryphaandmostofthePseudepigraphaareJewishworks(some
containChristianizingadditions).Theyprovidestrongandessentialevidenceof
JewishliteratureandthoughtduringtheperiodbetweentheendoftheOld
Testamentwritings(ca.400B.C.)andthebeginningofsubstantialrabbinic
literaturethatbeganinthelatterpartofthefirstcenturyA.D.(lateNew
Testamenttimes).Bothsetsofliteraturehavearousedmuchscholarlyinterest,
sincetheyprovidein-depthinformationabouttheJewishreligionasitwasatthe
turnoftheerabetweentheconclusionoftheHebrewBible(theOldTestament)
andthecreationoftheMishna(BiblicalLawandOralLaw),andtheyareof
immensehelpinexplaininghowRabbinicJudaismandtheearliestforerunnerof
modernChristianitycameintobeing.Forourpurposes,today,itisimportantto
understandhowseriouslyalltheseworksweretakenbytheancientJewsofall
levelsofsociety,andhowthoroughlyintertwinedintheirreligiousthought
processesthesewritingswere.Imakenoclaimastotheirinspiration,orlackof.
We’llsimplytakethemasreliablehistoricalinformationofthatera,andas
largelywhatthethoughttrajectoriesoftheJewishpeoplewere,andhowthey
believed.Inorderforustogainsomeusableunderstandingisthis,we’regoing
tobeginwiththeBookof1Enoch,aPseudepigraphicwriting.Wehavenoidea
whoactuallywroteit,butitseemstohavebeenpennedinthe2
nd
centuryB.C.
Sinceprobablyfew,ifanyone,listeningtomehasread1Enoch,we’renecessarily
goingtohavetotakesomesubstantialexcerptsfromthatbookinorderto
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
7/13
introduceustotheconceptofTheWatchers.Perhapsitisbesttostartwitha
briefexplanationabouttheoverallflowofthestoryofTheWatchersasexplained
byJohnC.Collins.
1Enochchapters6–16tellthestoryofTheWatchers,inwhich2storiesseemto
bewoventogether.Inone,theleaderofthefallenangelsisnamedAsael(Azazel
intheEthiopictext),andtheprimarysinisimproperrevelation;intheotherthe
leaderisShemihazah,andtheprimarysinismarriagewithhumansandthe
procreationofgiants.TheWatchersbegetgiantsonearthbytheirunionwith
humanwomen.Outofthesegiantscomeevilspiritsthatleadhumanityastray.
ThismotifiselaboratedfurtherintheBookofJubilees.Intheshortterm,the
crisisofTheWatchersisresolvedwhenGodsenttheGreatFloodtocleansethe
earth.
InamomentI’llreadtoyousomepertinentpassagesfromtheBookof1Enoch.
First,though,recallwhatwereadtogetherearliertodayinGenesischapter6.It
wasthatsomemysteriousbeingscalled“sonsofGod”cametoearth,
impregnatedhumanwomen,andproducedgibborim…mightymen…thathad
muchtodowiththeevilthathadinfectedtheentireglobalpopulationofhuman
kind.And,thatGod’ssolutionforthiscrisiswastodestroybymeansofaflood
everylastvestigeofhumanlifeontheplanetexceptfor8people,andalsoto
destroyeverylastliving,airbreathingcreatureonearth,exceptforthose
relativefewNoahwouldloadontoagiganticboat;theArk.Unfortunately,
Genesisleavesusmuchtowonderaboutthispassagebecausenofurther
explanationisoffered.TheBookof1Enochessentiallypurportstoanswermany
ofthoseunansweredquestionsthatGenesis6oughttonaturallyspawn,but
whichChristianityhaspushedasidewithanabsurdexplanationinarefusalto
facethechallengewithintellectualintegrity.
1Enoch6
1
Anditcametopasswhenthesonsofmenhadmultipliedthatinthosedays
werebornunto
2
thembeautifulandcomelydaughters.AndtheWatchers,the
sonsoftheheaven,sawandlustedafterthem,andsaidtooneanother:'Come,
letuschooseuswivesfromamongthechildrenofmen
3
andbegetuschildren.'
AndShemihazah,whowastheirleader,saiduntothem:'Ifearyewill
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
8/13
not
4
indeedagreetodothisdeed,andIaloneshallhavetopaythepenaltyofa
greatsin.'Andtheyallansweredhimandsaid:'Letusallswearanoath,andall
bindourselvesbymutualimprecations
5
nottoabandonthisplanbuttodothis
thing.'Thensworetheyalltogetherandboundthemselves
6
bymutual
imprecationsuponit.Andtheywereinalltwohundred;whodescendedinthe
daysofJaredonthesummitofMountHermon,andtheycalleditMountHermon,
becausetheyhadsworn
7
andboundthemselvesbymutualimprecationsuponit.
Andthesearethenamesoftheirleaders:Shemihazah,thisonewastheirleader.
Arteqoph,2
nd
tohim.Remashel,3
rd
tohim.Kokabel,4
th
tohim.Arumumahel,5
th
tohim.Ramel,6
th
tohim.Daniel,7
th
tohim.Ziqel,8
th
tohim.Baraqel,9
th
tohim.
Asael,10
th
tohim.Hermani,11
th
tohim.Matarel12
th
tohim.Ananel,13
th
tohim.
Setawel,14
th
tohim.Samshel,15
th
tohim.Sahriel,16
th
tohim.Tummiel,17
th
tohim.Turiel,18
th
tohim.Yamiel,19
th
tohim.Yehadiel,20
th
tohim.These
aretheirchiefsoftens.
1Enoch7
1
Andalltheotherstogetherwiththemtookuntothemselveswives,andeach
choseforhimselfone,andtheybegantogoinuntothemandtodefile
themselveswiththem,andtheytaughtthemcharms
2
andenchantments,and
thecuttingofroots,andmadethemacquaintedwithplants.Andthey
3
became
pregnant,andtheybaregreatgiants.AndthegiantsbegatNephilim,andtothe
NephilimwereElioud.Andtheyweregrowinginaccordancewiththeirgreatness.
Theyconsumed
4
alltheacquisitionsofmen.Andwhenmencouldnolonger
sustainthem,thegiantsturnedagainst
5
themanddevouredmankind.Andthey
begantosinagainstbirds,andbeasts,andreptiles,and
6
fish,andtodevourone
another'sflesh,anddrinktheblood.Thentheearthlaidaccusationagainstthe
lawlessones.
1Enoch8
1
AndAzazeltaughtmentomakeswords,andknives,andshields,and
breastplates,andmadeknowntothemthemetalsoftheearthandtheartof
workingthem,andbracelets,andornaments,andtheuseofantimony,andthe
beautifyingoftheeyelids,andallkindsofcostlystones,andall
2
coloring
tinctures.Andthesonsofmenmadeforthemselvesandfortheirdaughters,and
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
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theytransgressedandledastraytheHolyOnes.Andtherewasmuch
godlessnessupontheearth,andtheymadetheirwaysdesolate.Shemihazah
taughtenchantments,androot-cuttings.Hermanitaughtsorceryfortheloosing
ofspellsandmagicandskill.Baraqeltaughtthesingsofthelightningflashes.
Kokabeltaughtthesignsofthestars.Ziqeltaughtthesignsoftheshootingstars.
Arteqophtaughtthesignsoftheearth.Shamsieltaughtthesignsofthesun.
Sahrieltaughtthesignsofthemoon.Andtheyallbegantorevealmysteriesto
theirwivesandtotheirchildren.Andasmenwereperishing,thecrywentupto
Heaven.
First,Iwanttopointoutthatinchapter7weread:AndthegiantsbegatNephilim,
andtotheNephilimwereElioud.Mostlikelythissequenceofthetermsgiants,
thenNephilim,thenElioudarespeakingof3successivegenerationsofthe
offspringofthesonsofGodandthedaughtersofmen(likechildren,
grandchildren,andgreatgrandchildren).Second,whathappensnextinchapter
9isthatthe4ArchangelsMichael,Sariel,Raphael,andGabrielnoticethehorrors
thatarehappeningonearthasresultofthesinoftheseheavenlybeings,and
theygotoYehovehtoaskHimtoresolveit.Godrepliestotheirrequestin
chapter10.ListencarefullybecauseIthinkyou’llrecognizethegistofit.
ThentheMostHighsaid,theGreatHolyOnespoke.AndHesentSarieltotheson
ofLamech(Noah),saying,gotoNoahandsaytohiminMyname,hideyourself.
Andrevealtohimthattheendiscoming,thatthewholeearthwillperish.And
tellhimthatadelugeisabouttocomeonthewholeearthanddestroyeverything
ontheearth.Teachtherighteousonewhatheshoulddo,thesonofLamechhow
hemanypreservehimselfaliveandescapeforever.Fromhimaplantwillbe
planted,andhisseedwillendureforallthegenerationsofeternity.
Laterinchapters10and11wereadhowGodsenttheArchangelstodealwith
thesesinfulproblemcreatureswhoaretoblamefortheearth’srampant
wickedness:
…untilthedayoftheirjudgmentandconsummation,untiltheeternaljudgment
isconsummated.Thentheywillbeledawaytothefieryabyss,andtothetorture,
andtotheprisonwheretheywillbeconfinedforever….andatthetimeofthe
judgment,whichIshalljudge,theywillperishforallgenerations.Destroythe
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
10/13
spiritofthehalf-breedsandthesonsofTheWatchers,becausetheyhave
wrongedmen.
Iknowthisisalottotakein,soI’llquotetoyoupartofwhatAnnetteYoshiko
Reedsaysaboutitasasortofsummary:
ThebirthoftheGiantsisexplored(in1Enoch)intermsoftheminglingofspirits
andflesh.AngelsproperlydwellinHeaven;andhumansproperlydwellonearth.
ButthenatureoftheGiantsismixed.Thistransgressionofcategoriesbrings
terribleresults.Aftertheirphysicaldeath,theGiants’demonicspiritscomeforth
fromtheirdeadbodiestoplaguehumankind.Accordingthe1Enochtheangelic
transmissionofheavenlyknowledgetoearthlyhumanscanalsobeunderstood
asacontaminationofdistinctcategorieswithinGod’sorderlyCreation.As
inhabitantsofHeaven,TheWatcherswereprivytoallthesecretsofHeaven.
Theirrevelationofthisknowledgetotheinhabitantsoftheearthwas
categoricallyimproperaswellasmorallydestructive.
Here’swhatweneedtotakefromwhatwe’vestudiedthusfar:thisinformation
andstoryaboutTheWatchersandtheNephilimandtheGiants,etc.,iswhatthe
2
nd
TempleeraJewsbelieved(thatis,thoseJewswhoreturnedfromBabylon,
rightupthroughtheNewTestamentera),andsotheyunderstoodGenesis6
withinthatcontext.TheentirecommunityoftheJewsofthatera…evenincluding
thewritersoftheNewTestament…clungtothatunderstandingaswell.We
certainlywon’tlearnanyofthisbymeansofChristianhistoryorChristian
doctrine,becausethishistoryanddoctrinesaremorecommittedtothewritings
ofChristianreligiousauthoritiesthantotheHolyScripturesthemselves.
Ihaven’tthetimetogointothemattermoredeeply,butyoucanresearchon
yourowntoconfirmthatpriortotheenormoussea-changethatoccurredinthe
4
th
centuryA.D.,whenanewgentiles-onlyfaithbasedinRomewasestablished,
withitsfoundationbuiltonmanmadedoctrinesandtraditionsratherthanon
HolyScripture(I’mdescribingthebirthofmoderndayChristianity),theearliest
Churchfathersfromthe2
nd
andearly3
rd
centuriesunderstoodGenesis6andthe
matteroftherebelliousdivinecreaturesmatingwithhumanwomenand
producinghybridoffspring,inthesamewaytheJewishcommunityhadforafew
centuries.IrenaeusandOrigenspecificallywroteaboutit.Further,fromaJewish
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
11/13
andChristianperspective,wefindnotonlyexcerptsfrom1EnochintheDead
SeaScrolls,butalsoampleevidencethattheEsseneswhowrotethosescrolls
fullysubscribedtowhattheBookof1EnochtaughtabouttheNephilimandThe
Watchers.JustinMartyralsoacceptedTheWatchersstoryasdidTertullian.What
thismeansisthatweneedtounderstandthattheGreatFloodwasprimarily
meanttoresolvetheintractableissueofacrisisofworldwidewickednesscaused
byTheWatchers.Adam’ssinwassecondarytotherealreasonfortheFlood
becauseAdam’swasasinthatwouldperpetuallyresidewithinhumannatureoff
humans…withinourDNAsotospeak…foralltime.ThefactthatNoahand7more
humansweresavedbyGodinordertosurvivetheFloodandreplanthumanityon
earthguaranteedthatAdam’ssinwouldcontinuetoplaguehumanityasit
alwayshad,withorwithouttheNephilimandtheirprogenybeingaround.
Isthereanyphysicalevidenceofhugepeoplehavinglivedonthisplanet?Yes.
PerhapsthemostfamousistheGiantofCastelnau,ahumanskeletonthatwas
discoveredin1890inFrance,whichhasbeenexaminedbythetopmeninthe
fieldfromvariousprominentUniversities,andtheyagreeitisreal.Theskeleton
representsapersonthatisabout11½feettall.Further,severalhumanskulls
werefoundinthesameareathatmeasuredbetween28and32inchesin
circumference.Thisrepresentshumansthatrangebetween10and15feetin
height.Sowhyisthisnotdiscussedmore?Becauseotherprofessorsthatoperate
inthemedicalfieldhavedeclaredthatitisbiologicallyimpossibleforhumansto
growthathigh.Therefore,althoughthereisnoalternateexplanationforthe
immensesizeofthesehumanskeletons,theyrefusetoacceptthereality(much
thesamewaynotthatlongagoDinosaurremainsweredismissedastheDevil’s
deceptionbecausescientistshaddecidedthatnoanimalscouldeverbethat
large).
Anothertakefrom1EnochandfromotherJewishApocryphaand
Pseudepigraphicliteratureonthissubjectprovidesananswertoanother
Christiancontroversyanddilemma:wherediddemonscomefrom?TheBible
providesnorealanswers,onlyfrustratingclues,tothatquestion.Whenwe
incorporatethestoryofTheWatchersintothebodyofinspiredbiblicalworksto
trytoascertaintheoriginofdemons,wefindthatdemonsarenot“fallenangels”
perse;exceptthatifoneinsistsoncallingTheWatchersandthoseheavenly
beingswhocametoearthtoimpregnatehumanfemales,“angels”thatfellfrom
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
12/13
grace…orperhapsformerangels.Further,Satandidnotcreatedemons,nordid
God.Noraredemonsthespiritsoftypicaldeadhumanbeings(thatis,people
thatare100%humanandnotahybrid).Rather,ifoneaccepts1Enochandafew
otherancientJewishreligiousdocumentsonthesubject,demonsaresaidtobe
thedisembodiedevilsoulsofthedeceasedoffspringoftheheavenlybeingsthat
wereimproperlymixedwithhumanbeings.WhileIcannotsaywithcertaintythat
thisisindeedthecase,thereismuchmoreevidenceforthisconclusionthanfor
almostanyotherexplanationputforthbyJudaismorChristianitythusfar.
Iwanttocoveronefinalmatterinourexplorationthatwillbringustoa
conclusion.Thisisyetanotherimportantunderstandingthatwillhelpus
throughoutourpersonalstudiesoftheHolyScriptures.ItisthatmostChristians
areunawarethatthissamestoryofTheWatchers,anditsassociationtothe
GreatFlood,isfoundinancienttabletsfromtheMesopotamianreligion;tablets
thatwerepennedlongbeforetheHebrewreligioneverexisted.MuchofwhatI’m
abouttotellyouisnolongerparticularlycontroversialtoChristianacademics,
butverylittleofithaseverfiltereddowntoourTheologyschools,nortoour
Seminaries,andespeciallynottoPastorsandBibleTeachers.Theconcernseems
tobethatlaypeopleandthosewhorunourChurchesatalocallevelwill
misunderstandandbelievethattheveracityoftheBibleisbeingputinto
questionsimplybecauseitisundeniablethatother,larger,andolderancient
MiddleEasterncultureshadthesameideasasthewritersoftheScriptures…only
createdwithintheframeworkoftheirownpeculiarlanguageandculture…and
fromfarearliertimesthaneventhatofAbraham.Iwanttoalleviatethatconcern
bysayingthattomenothingwouldbemorenormalandnaturalforustoexpect
thanforancienthistoricaleventsthatwouldhaveaffectedallhumanity,
worldwide…suchasCreationitself,TheGreatFlood,andsomuchmore…tohave
beendocumentedandpasseddownwithinthetraditionsandlegendarystories
comingfromanumberofdifferentcultures.Ifthisdidn’thappen,thenonehasto
legitimatelywonderaboutthetruthofsuchastorythataffectsourentireglobe
iftheonlyplacewefinditisintheBible.Remember:inrelationtotheageofthe
earth,theestablishmentofhumansandthenhumancivilizations,thebiblicalera
occurredmuch,muchlaterinhistory.TheCreationdidn’thappenonlyfor
Hebrewstoexperienceortoknowabout;andneitherdidthematteroftheGreat
Floodorthecauseforit:divinecreaturesmatingwithhumanwomentocreate
giantswithspecialskillsandknowledge.
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
13/13
IntheMesopotamianreligionsofancienttimes…prioreventoAbraham…there
werewrittenaccountsaboutlegendarycreaturescalledApkallu.Thesecreatures
weresaidtohaveobtainedimmensewisdomfromthegods,andwereessentially
thegreatheroesofearlyMesopotamiancultures.Inoneoftheirancientworks
uncoveredcalled“Twenty-OnePoultices”wehearof7ofthesecreaturesof
immensewisdomandknowledge.TheyaresubservienttothegodEa.Itissaid
thatthese7sages(7Apkallu)werecreatedintheriverandtheywerecharged
withoverseeingtheproperfunctioningofthecreatureswhoinhabitedboth
heavenandearth.Theytaughthumankindkindhowtocreatecivilizations,the
useoftools,andofwhatpassedforancientmedicine(amongotherartsand
crafts).
The“river”thatisspokenofisactuallytheprimevaldeepfortheMesopotamian
culture;itwasaplaceofwater,locatedundertheearth,anditistheequivalent
ofthebiblicalAbyss.So,thefirstthingtograspisthatbymeansoftheseApkallu
humankindmadetechnicalandsocialadvancesthatotherwisewouldhavetaken
longerorwouldhaveperhapsotherwisebeenimpossiblealtogether.So,itwas
thoughtthatthewisdomandknowledgetheypassedalongtohumanitywas
divineinitssourceandtotallybeneficialtomankind.
TheCuneiformscholarAmarAnnussaysthatinBabyloniansocietyofold,there
wasatraditionthatthe7
th
kingtoexistsinceCreation,andthereforewhoexisted
beforetheFlood,ascendedtoHeavenwithoutdyingandtherehelearnedmuch
fromthegods.This7
th
kingwasnamedEnmeduranki,whoissaidtohave
obtainedhisknowledgespecificallyfromthegodsAdadandShamash.Weneed
tonoticethatEnochwasthe7
th
biblicalpatriarchsinceAdamandheexisted
beforetheFlood…exactlythesameastheMesopotamianstory.InGenesis
chapter5istheso-calledgenealogyofAdam.There,wereadthisaboutEnoch
(whoseHebrewnameisHanokh):
CJB
Genesis5:18-24
18
Yeredlived162yearsandfatheredHanokh.
19
After
Hanokhwasborn,Yeredlived800yearsandhadsonsanddaughters.
20
Inall,
Yeredlived962years;thenhedied.
21
Hanokhlivedsixty-fiveyearsand
fatheredMetushelach.
22
AfterMetushelachwasborn,HanokhwalkedwithGod
Lesson5-AmosChapter2continued2
14/13
300yearsandhadsonsanddaughters.
23
Inall,Hanokhlived365years.
24
HanokhwalkedwithGod,andthenhewasn'tthere,becauseGodtookhim.
ThatEnochwastakenbyGodhasalwaysmeanttotheHebrewsthathedidn’tdie
butratherwastranslated,alive,toHeaven.There,accordingtoJewishlegend,
hejoinedGodandsatonaHeavenlycouncilwherehelearnedsecretsand
mysteriesmeantonlyforheavenlybeings,andnotearthboundhumans,to
know.
AswefollowthestoryoftheApkalluinMesopotamianrecords,theywere
envisionedasfullydivinebeingsthatappearedpriortotheFlood,andtheybred
withhumanwomen,andthusproducedquasi-divinehybridbeings.Thisis
preciselyhow1EnochspeaksofTheWatchersandwhattheydid.Thedifference
isthatintheMesopotamianreligion,theresultantoffspringwerenotevil,but
rathergoodandtheywerethecriticalsourceofknowledgefortheraisingof
humancivilizationtoahigherlevel.ButfortheHebrews,theoffspringwasevil;
thewickedproductofparentsthathadcrossedoveranever-to-be-crossed
boundarythatseparatedHeavenlybeingsandtheirspecialknowledgeand
wisdomfromearthlybeingsandournecessarilylimitedknowledgeandwisdom.
ThisiswhyintheIsraelitemindthespiritsofthesedeadoffspring,someofwhich
weregiants,wereallconsideredevilandweretheoriginofdemons.
Circlingback,now,toAmos2:9,andunderstandingwhattheIsraelitesof
Amos’serabelieved,try(ifyoucan)toimaginewhatAmoshadtohavebeen
thinkingashewrotethispassageandwhatHisIsraelitereaderswouldhavebeen
mentallypicturingastheyreadit.ItisthattheAmorites(oratleastsomeoftheir
population)werethedescendantsoftheseevilgiantswhoAmosdescribedas
“tallascedarsandstrongasoaks”.Therefore,theAmoriteswere(inGod’seyes)
worthyonlyofdestructionandnaturallyHewantedHissetapartpeople,Israel,
tobetheearthlyinstrumentoftheirdestruction.
We’llendourexplorationofthisfascinatingtopichereandtakeupatverse10in
Amoschapter2,nexttimewemeet.