Expert: John of AllFaith - 7/9/2009

Question
in Genesis 6 it states that angels came to earth and mated with humans in Genesis 7 God sent the flood killing all flesh except those on the ark now later in the Bible it talks about Joshua fighting the Giants and even later David fighting Giants now how where does it talk about the genealogy of these giants where did they come from i understand that they came from another band of 200 angles but what chapter and verse is it

Answer
Hi Bill,

This is a truly fascinating study!

In the Genesis accounts the giants are identified as the Nephilim. These were the offspring of human females and angels (biblically speaking all angels are male).

If we take the global flood account literally they should have all been destroyed in the deluge. However the giants at Numbers 13:33 are also called Nephilm. This leads many to believe they survived the flood.

Joshua fought the Rephaim (Joshua 17:15) who, according to tradition, were a tribe of giants. Were these giants related to the Nephilim? This is a matter of some debate. Here are the biblical references to them:

GE 14:5 And in the fourteenth * * year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the REPHAIMs in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

GE 15:20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the REPHAIMs,

2SA 5:18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of REPHAIM.

2SA 5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of REPHAIM.

2SA 23:13 And three * of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of REPHAIM.

1CH 11:15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of REPHAIM.

1CH 14:9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of REPHAIM.

ISA 17:5 And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of REPHAIM.


Goliath was also Rephaim (II Samuel 21:16 for instance).

The connection because the Nephilim and the Rephaim is debated as is their presence on the earth today.

There are some very interesting beliefs regarding these beings.

Hope this helps,

~ John of AllFaith