The Sons Of God

Who are they?

The term "sons of God" (*בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים*, bene ha'elohim) shows up only a handful of times in the Hebrew Bible, but it carries deep meanings that have led to a lot of discussion among theologians and scholars. In Genesis 6, this phrase raises important questions about who these beings are and their role in the early biblical narrative. Jewish and Christian interpretations of this term have varied widely, resulting in different theories about the identity of these "sons of God" and their interactions with humans.

The Fallen Angels Interpretation

A long-standing and popular interpretation suggests that the "sons of God" were fallen angels—celestial beings who left their heavenly roles and came down to Earth. This idea comes from ancient Jewish beliefs and is backed by the Book of Enoch, an important text that, while not part of the official Bible, elaborates on the short account found in Genesis.

In the Book of Enoch, the "sons of God" are referred to as the Watchers, a group of two hundred angels. Led by figures like Shemihazah and Azazel, they decided to abandon their heavenly home and come down to Earth. They descended on Mount Hermon, which became a symbol of their rebellion. The Watchers were said to be motivated by their lust for human women. They took these women as wives, and together they fathered the Nephilim, a race of giants known for their impressive size and moral decay.

This view suggests a cosmic uprising, where the established divine order was disrupted by entities that overstepped the limits set by God. The defiant angels, by marrying human women, mixed the heavenly with the earthly, resulting in a tainted lineage that endangered the core of creation. The Nephilim, who emerged from this forbidden relationship, were giants in size and symbols of the disorder and brutality that would ultimately bring about the Flood's judgment.

The way we understand fallen angels has important religious meanings. It implies that what happened in Genesis 6 wasn't just about humans doing wrong, but also about a larger battle in the universe, where the disobedience of spiritual beings affected the physical world. This perspective emphasizes how the spiritual and material worlds are linked and acts as a warning about the dangers of going against divine authority.

The link between these interpretations and the New Testament is strengthened by Jude 1:6, which talks about angels that "did not keep their own position of authority but abandoned their rightful home." Many scholars think this refers to the fallen angels

mentioned in Genesis 6, connecting these ancient interpretations to the larger biblical story about God's judgment and the results of going against Him.

The Sethite View

Unlike the interpretation of fallen angels, many early Church Fathers, such as Augustine, supported a more natural explanation known as the "Sethite view." This idea suggests that the "sons of God" were the descendants of Seth, who was Adam's righteous son, rather than angelic beings. On the other hand, the "daughters of men" were seen as the descendants of Cain, who became wicked after killing his brother Abel.

The Sethite view argues that the mixing of these two groups—the righteous line of Seth and the sinful line of Cain—resulted in the moral decline of humanity. In this context, the "sons of God" are viewed as faithful followers of Yahweh who became corrupted through their relationships with the "daughters of men," which led to an increase in sin and violence across the world. This moral decline is thought to have played a major role in God's choice to send the Flood, as the integrity of the godly line was compromised.

One of the advantages of the Sethite perspective is that it steers clear of the supernatural aspects linked to the fallen angels' theory, which makes it easier for people who are uneasy about the idea of angels mixing with humans. It also fits well with the larger biblical narrative about the battle between good and evil, as shown by the differing paths of Seth and Cain.

On the flip side, this viewpoint has its own set of problems. The biggest issue is figuring out what the Nephilim were. If the "sons of God" were just good men and the "daughters of men" were regular women, how did their children turn out to be giants or famous figures? The Sethite interpretation has a hard time explaining the unusual characteristics of the Nephilim, which makes some scholars doubt whether it can fully clarify the meaning of Genesis 6.

Additionally, if the Sethite line was seen as so virtuous, why did they decide to marry women from the line of Cain, who were known for their wickedness and moral decay?

The Royal or Divine Kingship View

Another way to look at this is the royal or divine kingship perspective, which argues that the "sons of God" weren't angels or the descendants of Seth, but instead were ancient

kings or leaders who believed they had a divine connection. This idea is backed by similar beliefs in the ancient Near East, where kings were often seen as gods or demigods, claiming a special right to rule.

According to this interpretation, the "sons of God" were earthly monarchs who thought of themselves as divine or semi-divine. They exercised their authority by marrying many women, creating harems, and having children who became known as the Nephilim. By asserting their divine lineage, these rulers justified their control over others and their growing power. The Nephilim were viewed as the children of these rulers—powerful warriors or demigods who gained fame because of their ancestry and accomplishments.

The idea of royal or divine kingship provides a way to understand the political and cultural practices of ancient times. It highlights how human pride and the corruption that comes with power are central themes in the story. These kings claimed to have divine authority, which not only challenged God but also established a group of rulers who represented the extremes of power and the moral decline that often followed.

This perspective, while not as supernatural as the interpretation involving fallen angels, still has important consequences. It implies that the Genesis 6 narrative critiques human leaders who go too far, resulting in widespread corruption and divine punishment. The Nephilim, seen as the result of this overreach, represents the risks of pride and vanity, as well as the fallout from humans trying to take on divine roles. A look at the academic research backing this view shows that it stems from interpreting "Sons of the Most High" in Psalms 82:6 as referring to humans, which is then applied back to Genesis 6.

However, this interpretation does not fully consider the other references to the "Sons of God" found throughout the Old Testament.