Reopening the Discussion: Another Contextual Look at the Sons of God

Abstract

Using Lyle Eslinger's work on the text as a stepping stone, this article contends that—in contrast to general opinion—Gen. 6.1-8 is a carefully structured, unified section which was consciously inserted to inform the reader about the developments that led to the flood. The Genesis passage is preceded by the depiction of two opposing groups of humanity, one of which is almost lost in the verses immediately following the pericope. Through textual and contextual analysis, this article tries to show that the sons of God passage serves to clarify this disappearance. A non-mythological reading of the text is proposed, one which integrates Gen. 6.1-8 into the narrative of Genesis 1-11.