Herein I continue reviewing an article that was posted to the Answers in Genesis site by Bodie Hodge who holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. The article is titled, “Who Were the Nephilim? Genesis 6 and Numbers 13—a fresh look,” July 9, 2008 AD. He makes it clear that “As a ministry, Answers in Genesis does not officially take a specific stand regarding” this issue. You can find all segments here.
As Bodie Hodge puts it:
Another theological problem presents itself for the fallen angels view if we take a closer look at the Anakites (descendants of Anak), descendants of the Nephilim according to Numbers 13:33. The Anakites were not completely wiped out by Joshua. Joshua says:
Joshua 11:22No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive
This is stated because the actual term Nephilim only occurs within the Bible in the pre-flood Genesis 6 and the post-flood Numbers 13.
As he himself will note Numbers does not exactly claim that the Anakim are “descendants of the Nephilim.”
I have detailed this issue in Did Caleb and the spies see Nephilim giants in the land? so succinctly when spies were sent to reconnoiter the land Caleb disagreed with the report of the others. Hodge seeks to distinguish points between the bad/evil report of the spies and those points which Caleb challenged. Spies claim “The land devours its inhabitants” but Caleb said “The land was exceedingly good, flowing with milk and honey, according to Joshua and Caleb.” Spies, “All the men were of great size; the spies seemed very small in their sight (like grasshoppers)” but “Joshua and Caleb told them not be afraid of the people of the land. They didn’t comment on the size, but many may have been giants, since they do point out that people were afraid of them.” Spies, “Anakites were there” is not challenged. Spies, “Nephilim were there” is not challenged. Spies, “Anakites were descendants of the Nephilim” is not challenged.
Spies, “Anakites were only a part of the Nephilim” is not challenged.
Very common depiction of an Angels and yet,
unbiblical as they do not have wings.
Another statement from the article and then my reply:
So, it may not be the best argument to say that the false report meant that the Anakites were not Nephilim, since this point (nor other aspects of the report mentioned above) was never addressed as being false. Thus, the argument stands that Nephilim were the descendants of Anak and were around post-Flood. This also reveals that Nephilim can exist without being offspring of “sons of God,” as they are only listed as being descendants of Anak. Interestingly, Moses, who penned Genesis, said that the Nephilim were on the earth pre-Flood and also afterwards…
The Bible never records their line ending. Thus, there is no reason to assume the descendants of Anak are not still living today. In fact, they have probably interbred with many other people groups since then.
Basically, he is affirming that the Anakites are descended from the Nephilim and claims that this “was never addressed as being false.”
However, the Numbers text has the spies reporting about how amazing the land is but report that “the people be strong” and that “we saw the children of Anak.”
Caleb basically states get’er’done since God had told them to conquer the land. It is only at this point that the other spies claim, “we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants [Nephilim].” In other words, they took it up a notch in order to reinforce their fear mongering. They are said to have brought an evil or bad report.
Lastly, when Caleb relates this event later in his life, he Caleb himself affirms the presence of the Anakim in the land during the reconnoitering but says nothing of the Nephilim, the Anakim being related to the Nephilim, etc. (Joshua 14).
Thus, this only second of two specific references to the Nephilim in the Bible does not even a true reference to them but was employed as a scare tactic. So, perhaps the descendants of Anak are still living today but all of the Nephilim died in the flood.
But what about Moses writing “that the Nephilim were on the earth pre-Flood and also afterwards.”
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