Prelude to the Flood (Genesis 6:1-12)

People have spread out from the Garden of Eden and multiplied.  The result of which displeases God.  Here is what happened:

* Total wickedness
People are wicked and every inclination of their thoughts is for evil.  (v. 5).  It is hard to imagine what the Bible means by such a statement.  We get a few details later on, but I think the only fair contrast is Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.  There, we find two cities where visitors are almost raped.  We can assume that this, or possibly worse, occurred in the world, but on a global level.


* The Nephilim
The text states that sons of God intermarry with the daughters of men.  (v. 1-2).  This seems to create a race of people known as the Nephilim.  (v. 4)

Who were these people?  Most commentators I found believe that this was an angelic-human hybrid race.

We encounter them again in Numbers 13:33.  There, we learn they are giants that inhabit Canaan prior to the conquest of Joshua.

We can infer some things about them based on God's reaction to them.  First, they seem to be an attempt by humanity to reach immortality.  This I infer from Genesis 6:3, where God decides to limit the human lifespan to 120 years in the midst of discussing a hybrid human race.  So, perhaps copulation with an angel was one way to achieve immortal offspring, although it displeases God.

At this point, the echoes of the Greek myths where humans and gods copulated frequently.  It is also should remind of us the circumstances behind the birth of Christ.  If we take the Virgin Birth of Christ seriously, then perhaps we should not be surprised that angels and humans are having children.  We should understand as fallen angels, I.e., demons.

This also echoes a few other things we find in the early accounts of Genesis.  In that, it is the attempt by humanity to become like gods.  Being "like God" is what the serpent tempted Eve.  (3:4).  Looking ahead to the Tower of Babel, one of the stated reasons for its construction was to "reach the heavens".  (11:4).

Second, the existence of Nephilim is something that should be destroyed.  It displeases God in Genesis 6 and in Numbers 13, it is a condition that precedes the conquest.  God authorizes total war and annihilation of the inhabitants of Canaan.  Thus, the presence of the Nephilim is again associated with oncoming destruction by God.

Putting this together, it makes an interesting contrast to the other views offered by ancient near east mythology.  Here, the Bible assumes the existence of the ancient heroes and calls them the Nephilim.  But the God of the Bible is not happy with them and their existence is a prelude to the destruction, either of the earth or Canaan.  The Bible is saying that God is not with them, they are not gods like "God", and God can destroy them.


* Violence and corruption
The earth is corrupt and full of violence because mankind corrupted itself (vv. 5,11-12).  The corruption of man is so bad, that it has corrupted nature.  One wonders what exactly this means.  Perhaps, animals attacked humans on a level worse than today.  Or, perhaps there were more violent diseases.



The Effect
God's heart is filled with pain and he regrets creating mankind.  God plans to wipe out humanity, all but one man and his family.

The beginning of Genesis 6 sounds both harsh and strange.  It is harsh because God wants to destroy the world.  But it is strange because the earth seems to be filled with angelic-human hybrids and nature itself is corrupted.

It is time for a new beginning.