Repeated: humankind
(1) Is humankind and sons of God 2 different category?
If yes, assume humankind is group 1 and sons of God is group 2.
When the sons of God (2) took wives with daughters of humankind (1), then God said His Spirit will not remain in humankind (1) indefinitely. Why? The one who took action was sons of God (2). Why did God punish the humankind (1)?
The reason why the Spirit not remain in humankind (1) is because they are mortal. Nothing has to do with the marriage of their parents.
(2) Why did God withdraw the Spirit from mankind?
6 When humankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose...4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days (and also after this) when the sons of God would sleep with the daughters of humankind, who gave birth to their children. They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men.
A. Sons of God, their offspring were might heroes v.4-The tyrants saw themselves as divine and their offspring followed their footsteps (NET) Others identify the “sons of God” as powerful tyrants, perhaps demon-possessed, who viewed themselves as divine and, following the example of Lamech (see Gen 4:19), practiced polygamy.
(EBC) Though the description of the creation of the man and the woman in chapter 1 is clear that both have been created in God’s image, chapters 2 and 3 specify that the man was created by the breath of God (נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים, nišmaṯ hayyîm, 2:7) and that the woman was created (וַיִּבֶן, wayyiḇen) from the “side” (הַצֵּלָע, hassēlāʿ) of the man. Thus men are called the “sons” (benê) of God—denoting their origin from God—and women are called the “daughters” (benôṯ) of man—denoting their origin from man
they took wives for themselves from any they chose v.2, the sons of God would sleep with the daughters of humankind v.4
Does that suggest their problem is they had sexual relationship outside of marriage?
B. (EBC) For a brief moment we see a picture of man in the midst of his everyday affairs: “marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away” (Matt 24:38–39).
3 So the LORD said, “My Spirit will not remain in humankind indefinitely, since they are mortal. They will remain for 120 more years.”
it was God’s Spirit dwelling (yāḏôn) with these men that gave them their long lives and not their own “flesh.
mortal=(BDB) man over against God as frail or erring
Conclusion: The man chose their own wife and saw themselves as powerful. They were against God and probably lived with an immoral lifestyle. Therefore, God did not make them lives as long. The flood is coming. It was just a calm time before the storm.
Reflection: What "power" that gave me the wrong impression that I do not need God? What have I done to show that I am in charge of my life?
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