The Nephilim: A Tall Story? Who Were The Nephilim And How Did They Survive The Flood? -- By: Robin Routledge

Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 66:1 (NA 2015)
Article: The Nephilim: A Tall Story? Who Were The Nephilim And How Did They Survive The Flood?
Author: Robin Routledge


The Nephilim: A Tall Story?
Who Were The Nephilim
And How Did They Survive The Flood?

Robin Routledge

([email protected])

Summary

The Nephilim figure prominently in some popular literature. Their portrayal is speculative, but also based on Second Temple texts, which portray the Nephilim as the giant offspring of angels and human women who were responsible for the corruption that resulted in the flood. The OT includes few direct references to the Nephilim (Gen. 6:4; Num. 13:33; possibly Ezek. 32:27), though they have been generally linked with giant pre-conquest inhabitants of Canaan, particularly Anakites and Rephaim. The lack of detail in the OT suggests the existence of underlying extra-biblical traditions, though substantial differences appear to rule out Second Temple texts as a source for OT writers. Because the OT appears to include references to the Nephilim existing both before and after the flood, an important question is whether (or how) they survived the deluge. This article argues that the Nephilim in the OT are associated, primarily, with the antediluvian era; though are, intentionally, linked with postdiluvian ‘heroes’ to highlight the perversity of the pre-flood generation, who, in seeking liaisons with heavenly beings, seek to overcome their mortality. How they survived the flood does not appear to be of interest to the OT writers.

1. Introduction

The Nephilim appear to be of considerable interest, and there are a great many books on the subject. Some are fantasy; though their number, and the way they frequently use widely accepted religious

ideas, illustrate the significance of the Nephilim for popular culture. Others are written as non-fiction, and set out theories about the origins of the Nephilim, and their continued and future activity.1 These usually adopt the common view that the Nephilim are the gigantic, evil, hybrid offspring of human and non-human beings; with the latter viewed either as fallen angels or as extra-terrestrial aliens (or a combination of both). As such, the Nephilim represent the corruption of the human race prior to and during the days of Noah, and the primary purpose of the flood wa...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()