From Adam Clarke’s (1760-1832 AD) commentary:
The angels which kept not their first estate – Την ἑαυτων αρχην Their own principality. The words may be understood of their having invaded the office or dignity of some others, or of their having by some means forfeited their own. This is spoken of those generally termed the fallen angels; but from what they fell, or from what cause or for what crime, we know not. It is generally thought to have been pride; but this is mere conjecture. One thing is certain; the angels who fell must have been in a state of probation, capable of either standing or falling, as Adam was in paradise. They did not continue faithful, though they knew the law on which they stood; they are therefore produced as the second example.
As to “from what they fell, or from what cause or for what crime” Jude is telling us as does 2 Peter 2.
These Angels “kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation” which is whey they are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness” which will result in them undergoing “the judgment of the great day.” But what’fer? Peter add a timeline reference to Noah and the flood and both he and Jude direct us to the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah which Jude details more explicitly than Peter as pertaining to “fornication, and going after strange flesh.”
The references to fallen Angles, Noah/flood as timelines and sexual sins is why they appear to be interpreting the Genesis 6 affair.
Adam Clarke further notes:
The judgment of the great day, – The final judgment, when both angels and men shall receive their eternal doom. See on 2 Peter 2:4; (note). In Sohar Exod., fol. 8, c. 32: “Rabbi Isaac asked: Suppose God should punish any of his heavenly family, how would he act? R. Abba answered: He would send them into the flaming river, take away their dominion, and put others in their place.” Some suppose that the saints are to occupy the places from which these angels, by transgression, fell.
FYI: “Sohar” is aka Zohar and refers to a primary text of Rabbinic mysticism dating from the 13th c. AD. In any case, this may pertain to 1 Corinthians 6:3’s statement, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?”
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