Page 18 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

tempted to become one in marriage with the “daughters of men” simply because of physical beauty
(6:1-2). The result is a downward spiral of death. Some of their children are “Nephilim,” bandits, who
demonstrate great bravery in exploits. The Nephilim become heroes to the rest of the world, an
advertisement for the value of sin (6:4-5). So God decides to start over (6:6-8).
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Noah and his family are chosen. They experience a multitude of blessings from the good God, surviving
the destruction of the world. Despite such a striking experience, Noah becomes drunk, and his son Ham
takes advantage of the situation. The phrase “saw his father naked” is probably a quiet description of
incest (9:22). “To uncover the nakedness of…” often refers to heterosexual relations among family
members (Leviticus 18, 20). Noah’s other sons “covered” him, but the deed was done. More death.

The new generations descendent from Noah are no different from those of Adam. They spread out on
earth and build cities, generation after generation (Ch. 10). Nothing is wrong with these activities in
themselves. Death is expressed in the motivation. They want to make a name for themselves, not unlike
their first parent’s desire to take God’s place (11:1-4). God’s punishment is the confusion of their
languages. Going from a common language to lack of understand brings division and further scattering
of people from one another (11:5-9). The great building project is stopped.

From the very beginning of all this death, God speaks and acts to save mankind. His initiative can be
seen in his words to Satan. “I will put enmity
between you and the woman, and between
your offspring and hers; he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel” (3:15). The words
again are simple, so simple that we might miss
their significance. Satan will be defeated. His
head will be crushed. He will be defeated by
one offspring of the woman. “He will crush your
head. You will strike his heel.” The victory will
not be painless. Satan will strike the victor’s
heel. These words are more arresting in the
original Hebrew. “Offspring” is actually the
Fig. 10: Baby in Womb word “seed,” never used in any other place
with a feminine pronoun, “her seed.”

God speaks these words of salvation, but he also demonstrates something of what he means. He makes
garments of skin (3:21) to replace the flimsy leaves Adam and Eve had made to cover their nakedness.
An animal had to die to provide for their cover. Along with garments God removes another temptation
from their reach. He expels them from the Garden of Eden, not wanting them to live forever in a dead
society (3:22-23). Adam and Eve are just beginning to understand the cost of their eventual salvation.
Rebels must bring something to give to God, a sacrifice, if they would approach Him (4:3, 4). Cain
receives a mark from God to prevent someone from killing him for killing his brother (4:15).

18 Many experts have identified “the sons of God” as angels, their union with women producing a race of
giants. Scripture has already told us that reproduction happens “according to their kind” (1:24), so this is
unlikely. On the earth at the same time are people called “Nephilim.” (See Num. 13:33.) This name
comes from the Hebrew word naphal and can mean “to fall upon” or “attack.” They apparently were
violent attackers and robbers. The passage highlights the results when godly patriarchs abandoned their
spiritual heritage. See H.C. Leupold, Exposition of Genesis (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1942), 1: 258.

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