Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
I'm not buying your premise that "giant" people are called nephilim for no other reason other than their size. Both instances of the word in scripture indicates an actual race of giants, which the Lord God saw fit to judge, first by a vast flood, and then by a great army.
If all giant guys were called nephilim, then why is there no mention of Goliath being a nephilim?
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The funny thing is that there is nothing specifically indicating that nephilim is anything other than giants. Yes, it is part of the description of the sad state of affairs in Genesis, but without explanation. There is no further indication of why they were giants, or why they were included without explanation among the problems of the day (in Genesis).
But we have this burning desire to make more out of things than what is actually stated. I will admit that there was a problem and that their existence was somewhat hinted at as being generally part of it. But why do we insist on unstated facts beyond the description provided (giants)? Isn't it enough to note what
is written without adding what is not?
We could presume a lot. Maybe those that were somehow born extremely large did a form of pre-historic genetic engineering by procreating with others of similar size. That would be something that could be understood as done with a goal to producing a race of people who would be capable of conquering others and ruling over them.
But we throw the word "Nephilim" around as if it is synonymous with "demon spawn" or something like it. The record is too bland to arrive at that kind of analysis — especially as
the analysis. And as at least one Bible dictionary asserts, one of the tribes of the Canaanites was called "Nephilim" so referring to them in Numbers is not unexpected. And fear of them is likely to be expected from any who do not respect the power of the one true God.
And that Bible dictionary did not infer anything on the Nephilim other than size.