These are the kinds of questions that the ancient interpreters of the Bible loved to wrestle with! And in a fascinating, though fragmented, text known as The Midrash of Philo, we find some intriguing hints at answers. Now, let's be clear: this isn't the work of Philo of Alexandria himself, the famous Jewish philosopher who lived in Egypt during the time of the Second Temple. No, this Midrash of Philo is actually a later, medieval collection that claims to draw on Philo's wisdom. Think of it as a "what if Philo had written this?" kind of thing. Intriguing, right?
So, let's dive in. Our text begins with a direct question, pulling us right into the heart of the matter: "Why is it said that the days of man shall be a hundred and twenty years?" (Genesis 6:4). This refers to God’s statement in Genesis 6:3, limiting human lifespan. Why this number?
The text doesn't explicitly give us a step-by-step breakdown of the reasoning, but the very fact that the question is posed suggests a deeper meaning. It invites us to consider the significance of numbers in Jewish thought, a concept called gematria. Is there a symbolic connection? Does 120 represent something profound about the human condition, about the balance between divine intention and human free will? It’s a question that has echoed through generations of Jewish scholars.
Then, we're thrown another curveball: "On what principle was it that giants were born of angels and women?" (Genesis 6:4). Woah. This refers to the mysterious verse in Genesis 6:4 about the Nephilim. These Nephilim, often translated as giants, are presented as the offspring of the "sons of God" and human women.
Who are these "sons of God?" This is where things get really interesting, and interpretations vary wildly. Some understand them to be divine beings, angels who rebelled against God and mingled with humanity. Others see them as powerful men, perhaps rulers or descendants of Cain, who took wives as they pleased (Genesis 6:2).
The Midrash of Philo, by framing the question in this way, leans toward the interpretation of angels as the fathers of these giants. But why? What principle could possibly justify such a union? Was it a transgression, a corruption of the natural order? Or was there something more complex at play?
This idea of angels and humans producing offspring appears in other Jewish texts too. The Book of Enoch, a non-canonical but influential work, expands on this narrative, detailing the sins of these fallen angels and the wickedness that resulted from their actions. As Ginzberg retells it in Legends of the Jews, these angels, captivated by the beauty of human women, descended to earth and brought forbidden knowledge, leading to widespread corruption.
These questions, posed so simply in the Midrash of Philo, open a doorway into a vast landscape of myth, legend, and theological speculation. They remind us that the biblical text is not always straightforward, and that the rabbis and sages throughout history have wrestled with its mysteries, seeking to uncover deeper layers of meaning.
Ultimately, these questions about the lifespan of 120 years and the origins of giants remain somewhat open-ended. Perhaps that’s the point. The Midrash of Philo, and texts like it, aren't necessarily meant to provide definitive answers, but rather to spark our own curiosity, to encourage us to engage with the text, and to explore the boundless depths of Jewish tradition. So, what do you think? Where do these questions lead you?