NEPHILIM Myth of the Fallen: Genesis 6:1-4 Graduate Exegesis

By Elegwen O'Maoileoin

There were no "giants" or gigantes as the ancient Greek (koine) text of the Septuagint (LXX) poorly translates the already problematic and questionable Hebrew noun "nephilim" from the root n'pal. The question is not whether giants existed or a race of heroes and fallen angels, but rather where did the words of Genesis 6:1-4 come from?: *Extra-biblical traditions of mythology*Pseudepigrapha or lost sources and oral tradition*Ancient Near Eastern "Pop culture" and graffitu*Esoteric appropriations by sects*Divine Revelation or Linguistic Anomaly?
This book consists of an exegesis, or interpretation, of the verses 1-4 in chapter 6 of Genesis. Titled by Brueggemann as the "Sons of God and Daughters of Men," this pericope is one of the more peculiar ones found in the Torah texts. Some have thought that the text was composed as a prologue to give a reason for the flood, since it is a story of wrongdoing. While the consensus seems to agree that the verses represent Near Eastern mythological motifs, some believe that the fourth verse text was entirely inserted into the Genesis text. As Brueggemann observes, "6:1-4 has no connection with chapter 5 or any of the preceding material." The text holds great curiosity, however, beyond this compositional and locational issue. It is one of two texts that refer to the Nephilim, (the other is Num. 13:33.) This is a word that itself is complex, and will be the subject of study; moreover, the Nephilim have become figures in popular culture, beyond even their roots as an etiological explanation for giants or evidence of the fall of angels from heaven.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1794512365
• ISBN13: 9781794512368
• Release Date: January 2019
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 114 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"