Nefilim. Literally “fallen ones.” One of Torah’s great mysteries.
Who are they?
If we read Torah with attention to detail, then we can find some clues.
Nefilim are sons of gods (Gen. 6:1-4). They’re like giants (Num. 13:33). And they’re well-protected (Deut. 3:1-11).
But they are nothing good. Because right after we meet them, God regrets creating human beings.
Why? Torah tries to explain it. But the point is very subtle. So, some of us miss it.
The sons of god saw the daughters of the humans, that they were good. And they took for them women from all whom they chose (Gen. 6:2).
Midrash Rabbah, an early commentary, decodes this for us.
The sons of god are human beings. Aristocrats, wealthy and privileged. Too powerful for others to hold accountable. In their own eyes, above the law. Beyond ethical codes that constrain lesser human beings.
These self-proclaimed favoured “sons of god” do what they want. And if they want a woman, they just take her (Bereisheet Rabbah 26:5).
No wonder they are called Nefilim, fallen ones. Because morally, they have fallen. And no wonder God says, human evil is great (Gen. 6:5). Because it is.
Where did God go wrong? What exactly should God regret?
If we read Torah with attention to detail, then we can find some clues.
Remember back in the Garden of Eden? Where the primordial woman and man lived? The couple whose story tells us all about human nature? They eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And their meal comes with a heavy price tag of consequences.
To the woman, God says: el ishekh teshukatekh, v’hu yimshol bakh. Your desire will be for your man, and he will rule over you (Gen. 3:16). Or, in plain English. You will look to this man for friendship, love, co-parenting. For respect, approval, appreciation. But – your society being what it is, patriarchal – it’s possible your man will never look up to you. He may even look down on you, as a wealthy ruler looks down on his subjects.
The woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son. She names him Kayin, Cain. Why? Because, she says, kaniti ish et-Adonai, I have acquired a man, a God (Gen. 4:1). At least, that’s what the Hebrew says. Cain is a privileged boy. A firstborn son, an amazing being, seen by his mother as something divine.
Cain grows up with his younger brother. Both men offer fruits of their labor to God. And privileged Cain expects God’s approval. But God doesn’t give it. So, vayiflu panav, Cain’s face falls (Gen. 4:5).
Then, God asks, lama naflu panekha? “Why did your face fall?” (Gen. 4:6) Perhaps something inside Cain is falling, too. His feelings. Or his morals. Because God suddenly warns him that strong emotions can lead to sin.
What words does God use? The same ones God used to caution Eve about patriarchy. About sin, God tells Cain, eleicha teshukato, v’ata timshol bo. It will desire you, but you must rule over it. (Gen 4:7). As if God is saying, “Women, men will rule over you; so men, you’ve got to rule over your impulses.”
Think about it, Cain, God says. You were raised to expect approval, appreciation, even adulation. But some things you cannot have. Your mood may fall. Your ethics may fall away. But get a grip on yourself. You must master the impulse to sin.
And then Cain, poor fallen Cain, gets up – vayakam — and kills his brother.
Instead of mastering himself, he masters his brother.
“You’re cursed!” God says. “But, no!” Cain whines, “the punishment is too great for me to bear.” “Okay, then,” God says, “I will protect you.”
Is it any wonder that the descendants of Cain become the nefilim, the fallen ones? Men who expect everything to come their way. When it doesn’t, their faces fall and their hearts sink. Then, they get up and take what they want anyway. But no one holds them accountable. No judge, no jury, not even God.
No wonder God says, “I regret what I did.”
And yet, humans are still here. And so are the nefilim.
How, then, will we lift up our world?
Image: crystallinks.com. Thanks to members of the midrash class at Vancouver School of Theology, whose discussions led me to make the textual connections I share here.
Still confused 🙁
So is God, it seems.
I don’t thing G-d ever makes mistakes. He always has a plan. For every tiny thing he creates!
This is a very comforting teaching. Thank you, Michelle.
You really made me thinking… Great material to work over the week
Thanks, Ileanah! Very creative things happen when you start thinking.
Brava, Reb Laura, for another superb commentary, and oh, so timely!
Thanks, Leah, for reading and commenting!
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Well, To lift up your world, overcome sin. I imagine striking out at just about everyone in my life right now. I get it. Everything I believed in seems like a lie, and So here I am, back to Torah for some direction. I probably won’t kill anybody. I guess that is progress. My shalom is on vacation in another universe apparently. Help!!!
Thank you, Jacquelyn. Looks like you are working hard to restore wholeness. Shalom to you.
So we are living in a “mixed moral” universe. Fundamentally unjust, and you indicate God isn’t happy about this state of the universal union. There must be a sacred formula (an old Italian euphemism for justice) for humans to deal with this state of affairs. What is it, I wonder?
Thank you, Heather, for the comment and for the question. I think the Torah’s instructions show up in Leviticus and are echoed in the prophets. A key theme is for each person (and each community acting in concert as well) to look out for the interests of someone more vulnerable than they are. And I would love to hear your thoughtful answers to our question as well.
Well two Torah cycles later, I’m more kosher everyday, in everyway. How to improve the world, I’m working on myself by Torah study, which transforms miraculously. We recoil from evil, and seek God wholeheartedly. I know we have not arrived at our goal, there is still great work, but we really are progressing. I see fulfillment of return, shalom, all the promises still are ours. The future is bright, and a new world is dawning. Happy New Year, and a new glimpse into Bereshit. Redeem we will, succeed we must. I offer a good report. Heaven is coming to us all.
Jacquelyn, thank you so much for this message. I am so encouraged by glimpses of hope these days, so I’m pleased to read that you feel that you and the world are moving towards the light. Blessings and happy new year.
Thank you for this provocative teaching! What strikes me is that the adulation of Cain by Eve was born of love and wonder. When God protects Cain after first threatening curse, it feels like the same parental care. God doesn’t want to destroy Cain through punishment. Of course, with my modern read, and my lack of care for Cain, I want to see Cain punished. Yet, I keep hearing of stories of redemption where men who have murdered come to understand what they have done and strive to live differently. There are so many stories of the unconditional acceptance they have received which then opens their hearts. Why didn’t all this love from Eve and God open Cain’s heart? What is it that God regrets? I hope it’s not God’s own concern and compassion!
Thanks, Elana, for this reflection. Many read Cain’s story as one of redemption, where he sees that he did wrong, and spends his life regretting and repenting. I do really wonder about the first question you pose. That’s much more in line with how I usually think about love, and with my own experience of parental love. So I wonder why following the text led me in a different direction! Hmmm