Question
In Gen. 6:2, who were the “Sons of God” who took wives from the daughters of men?
Answer
The commentators on Gen. Ch.6 differ as to whether the “sons of elohim” referred to in v.2 were (fallen) angels (e.g., Job 1:6) or members of the ruling class (“elohim” in the Torah can mean either “god” or “judge”). The first view would account for the fact that the offspring of these unions were giants (nephilim; see v.4 and Num. 13:33). The second view explains why G-d was angry at the human race (v.3) because of what the “sons of elohim” did.