Gen. 06 – The World That Perished
Genesis 6.1 – 2
Genesis chapter 6 speaks out about the sinfulness of humankind and the impending destruction of the world by water 4,124 years ago, Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk, My Bible Journal (Cedar Hill, Missouri – B’nai Noach Torah Institute, LLC Publishers, 2013) p 67 – And it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were pretty; and they took as wives all those whom they chose.
Dear Ones, during the first two-thousand- eighty-five years F.C. / from creation humankind did not age. No one died of old age until after the Akeidah. Our sages teach us that after Abraham willingly offered Isaac as the holy sacrifice on the altar he built. God provided the ram in place of Isaac. Afterward when they were coming off of Mount Moriah Abraham, prayed for visible old age. Instantly people throughout the world showed age. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I(a)(Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), pp 888 – 889. The point to this story is when the sons / Angels of God saw the daughters of men they were pretty. At that time the daughters, mothers, grandmothers etc. were all young, vibrant and youthful-looking. The two Angels took wives for themselves from anyone they wanted. Their lustful desires were not restrained. That is when they became fallen, Angels. Holy Scripture Says ‘they took.’ we are to understand they had the physical power to do as they chose. They did not employ restraint. They used force to take whoever they wanted. Their misuse of supernatural power destroyed the entire social order. The Nefilim broke their agreement with The Lord and the Torah
When God said, “Let us make man” the Angels Uzza and Azael said to God, “What is man that You know him? Why do you desire to create man, who You know will sin before You through his wife, God said to them: “You yourselves shall commit the very crime of which you accuse man”; and so it is written, “and the sons of God saw the daughters of man that they were beautiful”, and [the Angels Uzza and Azael] went astray after [the daughters of man] and were downgraded by God from their holy estate.’ They were cast out of heaven. They became known as הַנְּפִלִים Nefilim meaning ‘the fallen. Their Descendents were Supernatural giants. To indicate the source of their strength Scripture calls the giants b’nai Elohim, [בְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים the sons of G-d], indicating that their strength and size was conferred by evil angels… Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I(a)(Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 182
They were supernatural beings that had sexual relations with humans. The results were giants. This improper and unholy mix of supernatural beings into the human race was certain destruction for all mankind had it not been eliminated from off the face of the earth.
And He, The Lord Said,
My Spirit shall not always contend in man, shield him forever for he is flesh; his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה לֹא־יָדוֹ רוּחִי בָאָדָם לְעֹלָם בְּשַׁגָּם הוּאבָשָׂר וְהָיוּ יָמָיו מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה
This is challenging. The term יָדוֹן Yaw Dohn speaks of the Yetzer Tov, the good inclination within each of us. It seems that we are being informed that there is a place where man may no longer have a Yetzer To, A good Inclination. That place is described in this Chapter of improper relationships. Man has been allowed to live very long periods of time. Look at Chapter 5. Those that have the Chadashim, i.e. last year’s Calendar look at page 58 – The History of Adam to Moshe Chapter 5 informs us Adam, Shet, Enosh, Keinan, Mahalaleil, Yered, Methushelach and Lamech died. If Kayin and Chanoch were added to this group this was ten generations. What is the point? So few people from these generations had died. Humankind enjoyed many youthful years. They were young and energetic. No noted sicknesses. No noted health issues. Everyone was a vegetarian. From the standpoint of beauty, Ha Torah is saying that great great great great great grandmothers were just as young and beautiful as their great great great great great-great-grandchildren…
And He, HaShem Said, My Spirit shall not Judge among man forever. [The total years a righteous individual lived to were less than one thousand up until this time.] Moreover, he is flesh and his days will [now be] one-hundred and twenty years.
Dear Ones only five times in all of Ha Torah are the Words בני נח B’nai Noach / Children of Noah found. Interesting? Yes! Why? The Gematria of the Words בני נח B’nai Noach is 120.
בני נח B’nai Noach
ב2נ50י10נ50ח8 = 120
Mystically we see the name of Noach children represent the total years a righteous person may live…
Then we note that there are ONLY five references to בני נח B’nai Noach / Children of Noah in all Ha Tenach. They are Bereisheit 7.13; 9.8; 9.11; 10.1 and 10.32. 5 x 120 equals 600. Interesting? Yes! Why? Ha Torah Says that it was in the six hundredth year of Noach’s life that the floodwaters began, Bereisheit 7.11.
Noach preached righteousness. Noah was a preacher of righteousness. Bereishis 6:3 states that G-d waited 120 years. God Said in reference to the sinful people living in Noach’s day, “My Spirit shall not continue to judge man forever since he is but flesh…”
According to Sefar HaYasher Hashem required Mesushelach and Noach to preach repentance every day for 120 years leading up to the flood. Sefar HaYasher notes that five years before the flood Hashem Commanded Noach to build the Tava {ark}. This was in Bereishis 6:14.
It is important to note that Moshe lived 120 years exactly, Devarim 34.7! Moshe through the Hand of God brought destruction on Mitzriam.
What is the point of the number 120? There was a righteous line of individuals coming forth from the third son of Adam and Chavah, Shet. He established a line of people whereby the world would be saved. We are all from this righteous line of Shet. We have deep and special veins of righteousness that run through our bodies reaching back 5,641 years.
Dear Ones, it has been especially wonderful to know that The Lord God Offers us easy ways to repent. God Willing, we will share some time together. May we stay within Torah’s Guidelines of righteous living and repentance. May we help others, May we bring peace and healing to our world. May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day.
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
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