LIGHT OF MENORAH

Genesis 23 - Gen. 9:1-11:9 - Nimrod Bullt the Tower?? No Way.

In this podcast we return to Genesis 9 and Noah’s planting a vineyard and then getting drunk.  One asks why this story was highlighted in God’s TORAH תּוֹרָה, His instruction?  And then what about the aftermath when his son Ham sees Noah drunk and naked in the tent.  What is going on? 

This is one of several instances where the Lord our God, Yahvay יהוה, does not give us clear precise understanding.  Scholarship is all over the map in providing reasonable commentary on this event.  One concludes that there is no clear answer to all this. 

One Jewish scholar, Leon Kass, in his Genesis commentary offers his view.  Kass seems to think this is all about family.  Ham brought shame upon his dad and over and over again TORAH תּוֹרָה,  Yahvay’s יהוה instruction, has a lot to say about family.  Kass notes that in Genesis chapters 1-11 that this has nothing to do with the Hebrews or Judaism.  So this event in Genesis 9 is seemingly to teach all mankind.  Kass makes a superb added idea as to the purpose of this story.  But, once again, there are many other ideas and opinions.  Kass’ opinion, however, makes a lot of sense as you will see as you join us in this study.

We will also come to Genesis 10 and come face to face with the notorious Nimrod.  We are taught that Nimrod was pure evil was the guy who had the Tower of Babel built.  But, as we will see all this is pure fantasy.  These are legends made up by the rabbis in Rabbinic Judaism.  These legends then “slid easily” into the church as well and not we are teaching the Bible and pushing that legends and made up rabbinic views are truth.  They are not.  So, this lesson is quite important to study and consider the truth behind the word of God and the character of Nimrod and what the Bible says about him and not some rabbi who made up some fictional account since to that rabbi it seemed to fit his agenda or view.  We can not and should not teach that someone’s opinion or made up views are truth.  That is why I focus on teaching the Torah in its historical context.  We must get at what God’s original intentions were when He inspired Moses to write His Torah.  We need to focus on the words of our Lord and our God when He said …

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue (the Greek is MENO G3306 – it has the idea of relying or persevering) in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (Joh 8:31-32)

 

Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

Exodus 2 - Exo. 1:8-22 Let Your Light Shine

Is the Bible credible?  Can we trust it?  Is the Exodus more than a story?  In lesson 2 we begin an amazing journey to show the veracity, the trustworthiness, of the book of Exodus.  As we continue in Exodus chapter one we will see that we are dealing with historic events – things that actually happened.  One top of that we will begin to verify the exact year when Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt.  It’s all related to an ancient pagan calendar that the majority of archaeologists agree is accurate and can be used to date events. 

Another aspect of this lesson is WOMEN.  The Bible is the only ancient religious source that shows the real intention of God as it relates to men and women.  God made men and women both equally in His image.  Man is not above woman and woman is not above man - they are equal in God's eyes.  The Bible is the only ancient source lifting up women to their equal and lofty place in God’s creation and plan.  Men are the ones who put down women.  The problem that messed things up was sin and turning away from God.  Woman first and then her man.

Later we see that woman was “built” by God (that is the actual Hebrew – built assumes a specific design unlike man) to NOT be a “suitable helper.”  That is what men did in translation.  They did not translate the Hebrew correctly and thus put down women.  The actual Hebrew is EZER KENEGDO  עזר כנגדו or a strength in front or a strength alongside. 

Gen. 2:18.  The implication is man was incomplete without woman and visa versa.  Woman is not man’s little helper.  No way.  She is the completeness of his strength and seemingly implies that physical strength is not sufficient.  Man needs woman. 

In this lesson we will see that the great pharaohs of Egypt are of no account as compared to two pagan Egyptian  women.  We will meet real heroines, we will meet strong, brave, bold women with guts.  Not men.  Women.  The Bible cries out from 3400 years ago to teach us, men and women, what it means to be one of God's people.  

In this lesson I mentioned I’d provide links to a few articles that relate to this lesson.  The links are below. 

The first link is to an article on Roman practice of infanticide and the catacombs of Praetextatus - https://earlychurchhistory.org/medicine/infanticide-in-the-ancient-world/

The second link is another major article on the legality of ancient abortion, infanticide, and infant exposure in ancient Rome and Greece and the early Christian response - https://www.dropbox.com/s/aj2qbmm6eqc7d5f/Pagans%2C%20Christianity%2C%20and%20Infanticide.pdf?dl=0

The third article is on 4 reasons why the early Messianic Christian assembly (church) grew so fast - https://myocn.net/four-reasons-why-early-christian-church-grew-so-quickly/

Lastly is a paper I did on adoption in ancient Rome.  It relates so well to this lesson.  Link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/i0fg3wwbm9xohzq/Ephesus%20Adopt.pdf?dl=0

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

Genesis 22 - Gen. 9:1-19 - NOAH PLANTS A VINEYARD - THIS IS A BIG DEAL

This podcast deals with two verses.  The first is …

Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, "Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you. (Gen 8:13-16)

There is a possible amazing connection of these verses to the book of Revelation.  It’s almost as if the “salvation” of the 8 people, Noah, his wife, his sons, and his daughter in laws, from the waters of the flood is a paradigm of the elect of Yahvay יהוה, the Lord our God, being “saved” as well.  In Revelation this is also related to the seas and dry land.  Wait till you see this.  It is so cool.

But, are we surprised?  The Lord our God has already shown that there is a correlation between Noah and the Messiah, Noah and Jesus.  We will recall Jesus’ own words when He made the connection between His return and the days of Noah.  On top of that check out the article at Hebrew4Christians.com.  It is amazing to see that Noah is a paradigm of the Messiah.  Here’s the link …

https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Noach/Noah_and_Jesus/noah_and_jesus.html

So, perhaps there is a link of the “salvation” of the remnant in Genesis to the “salvation” of the remnant in the book of Revelation.  To me it shows again that in order to understand the book of Revelation you need to first study the book of Torah and the Prophets.  Again and again we see that the Revelation depends upon the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures, since that was the ONLY Bible when the Revelation was written – there was no New Testament.

The second verse we’ll focus on are …

Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. (Gen 9:20-21)

Noah lives another 350 years after the flood.  So the only event the Lord inspired Moses to record after the flood in Noah’s life before he dies is that Noah planted a vineyard and got drunk.  What?  That seems ridiculous.  So the guy plants a vineyard and get drunk.  So what?  How does that help me with my life as one of God's people, a Christian, a disciple of Jesus today?

What is amazing is Yahvay יהוה, the Lord our God, is again asking us to study this event in its historical context.  This is part of God’s TORAH תּוֹרָה, which means “teaching” and not law.  Christians have translated TORAH as law not understanding the real meaning from the Hebrew.  It means teaching.  The first rive books of the Bible are Yahvay’s יהוה, the Lord our God’s, teaching.  His first audience were the Hebrews coming out of Egypt.  So, is there a possibility that this event for the Hebrews might relate to their yeas in Egypt where they had assimilated into the Egyptian culture and religion?  Would they look upon this event differently then us?  You bet.  And once we see how this makes sense to them then it’ll become so understandable for us today, now, in the 21^st century. 

So, interested?  Come let’s go study.

Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

Exodus 1 - Ex. 1:1-8 One Story

It is amazing how God uses the major event in Judaism, the Exodus, to teach us what His ultimate redemption of all men and women will be like.  The Exodus stands alone as a major event in human history.  It is amazing that God chose one people to be His chosen people so that the world would come to know Him, the God of Abraham, the one God, the only God through Israel.   He didn't pick Israel because they were somehow better than every other people.  No.  Just the opposite.  They were a stubborn and stiff necked people and the Lord teaches them it is not that they are righteous that He is doing all this ...

"Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you. "It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deu 9:4-5) 

And later in Isaiah 42:6 & 49:6 we learn that God has a purpose for Israel, His servant.  They are to bring His salvation (salvation in Hebrew is YESHUA יְשׁוּעָה or, in English, Jesus!) God will bring His Yeshua יְשׁוּעָה, His salvation, to the whole world through Israel.

The first redemption is the Exodus.  And God seems to teach all of us that to understand the ULTIMATE redemption we need to understand the Exodus.  If we understand the first we will understand the second; we will understand the Jesus and the Cross.  This became the major event in Christianity.  

So.  Let us dive in to the study of Exodus.  Let us ask how God brings us the Gospel and the Good News of the Kingdom to us via the pen of Moses.  Let us turn to study THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MOSES.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

Genesis 21 - Gen. 6:5-8:22 - NOAH? WHY HIM?

In John 5:39 Jesus says that scripture testifies of Him.  He said this between 24-30 A.D. and all they had THEN was the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  He was teaching them then and His disciples went out and took the Good News and took it to the "ends of the earth" and changed the world.  This implies to us that we need to focus on the Hebrew Scriptures as they did then to see Jesus they way they did then.  

In this Bible lesson we ask the question why did God chose Noah?  In this lesson we will hear and understand that Noah was like a foreshadowing of the Messiah, or Yeshua, Jesus.  This is not surprising.  The Lord, יהוה‎ Yahvay, does this with Isaac and Moses and Joseph of the many colored coat.  Check it out at these links ...

Genesis 48 - Isaac foreshadows the Messiah -https://youtu.be/0sBrQoAFgPw

Hebrew4Christians article on Moses as a foreshadowing of Messiah -https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Like_Moses/like_moses.html#loaded

Hebrew4Christians article on Joseph as a foreshadowing of Messiah -https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Mashiach_ben_Yosef/mashiach_ben_yosef.html

So, it isn't surprising that we see Noah as one who foreshadows the coming Messiah.  So come and join us and consider this man Noah and the message the Lord is giving us today about him.

 

Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

 

 

 

 

Genesis 20 - Gen. 6:5-8:21 - THE FLOOD STORIES

Across the world and in many ancient and modern cultures one finds stories of the ancient flood.  Some are similar to the Biblical account.  A credible scholarly website is “Answers in Genesis.”  One can find an article at this website entitled, “Flood Legends.”  Here’s the link to this article - https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/  In this article it states that …

“Did you know that stories about a worldwide flood are found in historic records all over the world? According to Dr. Duane Gish in his popular book, “Dinosaurs by Design,” there are more than 270 such stories, most of which share a common theme and similar characters.  So many flood stories with such similarities surely come from the Flood of Noah’s day.” (White, Dr. Monty. “Flood Legends: The Significance of a World of Stories Based on Truth.” AnswersinGenesis. Nov. 7, 2024. https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/)

 

It is not surprising that this fact is used to conclude that the flood must have been worldwide; the flood we know so well in the Bible covered the whole earth.  The problem is there is NO scientific evidence that conclusively shows the flood was worldwide.  That it is worldwide is based many times upon the English translation of the Bible without taking into account the original Hebrew.  It only makes sense that the flood being worldwide can not be based upon the flood legends and stories that are found worldwide and in many diverse cultures.  The reason is simple as is stated in the article found at “Answers in Genesis.” 

“The reason for these flood stories is not difficult to understand. When we turn to the history book of the universe, the Bible, we learn that Noah’s descendants stayed together for approximately 100 years, until God confused their languages at Babel (Genesis 11:1–9). As these people moved away from Babel, their descendants formed nations based primarily on the languages they shared in common. Through those languages, the story of the Flood was shared, until it became embedded in their cultural history.” (White, Dr. Monty. “Flood Legends: The Significance of a World of Stories Based on Truth.” AnswersinGenesis. Nov. 7, 2024. https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/)

 

The article at “Answers in Genesis” included a great chart.  It shows the widespread belief in an ancient flood among many ancient cultures.

(White, Dr. Monty. “Flood Legends: The Significance of a World of Stories Based on Truth.” AnswersinGenesis. Nov. 7, 2024. https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/)

 

The Bible says there were only 8 people left after the flood.  Moreover, the presence of humankind was regulated to the area of Noah’s day.  Humankind was not the global in Genesis 6.  Humankind was just beginning to expand and the flood destroyed that expansion.  God started all over again with Noah and his family.  Thus, the story of the flood was passed down from generation to generation from one family.  Humankind expanded and it spread across the earth along with the flood story.  So it is not surprising that we see the widespread flood legends across the world and that these legends have similar concepts as in the Bible but have also changed as per the culture and perspectives of each tribe and group and nation. 

So, this does not prove the flood covered the entire earth.  It shows that the real historical event of the flood in Genesis was passed down to generation to generation among humankind as it spread and expanded across the world.  The issue however is not if the flood was global or local.  I find this discussion rather pointless and seemingly the wrong thing to focus on.  For me it is taking our eyes off the real question which is “why the flood – what was its purpose?”   Come and join us in lesson 20.  This lesson along with lesson 19 tries to get at this more critical question.  Here’s the link to Lesson 19 -  https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/genensis-19-gen-65-821-and-john-529-the-flood-testifies-of-yeshua/?token=37a93cda3394b88790b3d0359cde7ba7  When we focus on this question we find it has a lot to do with Yeshua and the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and the Cross and the Gospel.  This is the big picture and arguing over  global or local flood to me clouds the real issue the Lord is trying to teach us in His TORAH which means “teaching” and not law.

 

Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

 

 

 

Genensis 19 - Gen. 6:5-8:21 and John 5:29 - The Flood Testifies of Yeshua

In John 5:39 we read the words of Yeshua when He said ...

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" (John 5:39 NASB). 

All they had was the Old Testament in Jesus' day.  Therefore, is there a connection with the purposes of the flood and the reason for the Cross?  There is.  It seems likely the flood testifies of the Messiah.

There are two critical verses to consider.  Gen. 6:5 and 8:21.  The first describes mankind before the flood.  The second verse describes mankind after the flood.  After the flood there were only eight people left, Noah and his wife, his three sons, and their wives.  The verse are below.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 
(Gen 6:5)

The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. 
(Gen 8:21)

So Yahvay, the Lord God, is sad and decides to destroy all mankind.  He does this and it is all because of the state of man as specified in Gen. 6:5.  The flood occurs and now we are left with eight people.  And God states that the condition of mankind (these remaining eight) hasn't changed!  They are still ones whose heart is intent on evil from their youth.  So, the flood did nothing.  It did not get rid of sin and evil and man's inclination to sin.  Is God saying that the only to get rid of evil, sin, and mankind's inclination to sin is to totally destroy all humans?  If He had, if Yahvay also killed Noah and his family, there'd be no more sin.  The Creator would've destroyed the Creature He made, man and woman, and we'd have a world with no sin and no evil.  But, He left eight live.  And they have the same condition as before the flood.  

He left eight live.  Is this perhaps related to a famous verse we seemingly all know and that is John 3:16 or 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." 
(Joh 3:16)

Is He saying that the answer to the dilemma of the curse on us, on all mankind, our inclination to sin, is the sacrifice of Messiah, the death of Yeshua? 

So join us as we study the answer to the fact that the flood did nothing, it did not rid the world of sin and death and evil.  Join us as we again hear THE VERY WORDS OF GOD and see that scripture testifies of Jesus and the redemption plan of the Lord.

 

 

Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

 

 

 

Genesis 18 - Gen. 6:5-8:22 - THE FLOOD: DID WE MISS SOMETHING?

So many times I hear Christians vehemently argue that the flood in the Bible is global as opposed to local.  They say sciences proves it and the Bible itself proves it.  But, I contend that this is the wrong argument.  It is not if the flood was real or if it was global or not, the argument is, WHY THE FLOOD.  What was its purpose?

It seems clear God tells us.  The problem is the issue with mankind that saddened the Lord and this issue, the curse of mankind, did not disappear with the 8 survivors.  If you study the very word of God carefully we find that that which was inherent in mankind before the flood was not taken care of in Noah, his sons, their wives, and Noah’s wife.  The flood did nothing.  This in itself is huge. 

God is showing us something we missed.  God is teaching us about sin and evil.  God is teaching us there is only one way to get rid of sin and evil.  But, no, we miss it since we are too concerned with if the flood was global or local.  We simply can’t “see” the forest through the trees.

There are some great links that show clearly the flood was not global but local.  Check them out below.  But, again, the issue that the flood did occur, or if it did occur was is global or not, is not the issue!   The issue is God is showing us that sin and evil in us can be taken care of by God destroying all of us – ALL.  But, Yahvay left 8 alive.  There were eight with the same evil inclination the saddened God and thus He decided to destroy all mankind.  But, He didn’t.  He preserved 8 with the same sinful evil inclination.  Now what? What will the Lord do now to get rid of sin and evil in us?  Simple.  Ever hear of the Gospel?

Check this link out - an article by Dr. Hugh Ross, a brilliant and proven scientific scholar and devoted Christian.  His expertise and knowledge will blow you away.  Here's the link to his article ... https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/todays-new-reason-to-believe/does-the-bible-say-noah-s-flood-was-global-or-universal

After you read the article check out this detailed lecture presented again by Dr. Hugh Ross to students and teachers at a Christian seminary regarding the flood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTuUCAkpHUQ

Then, check out this article by a prove credible Christian geologist regarding the flood - it can't be global - https://www.csun.edu/~vcgeo005/Carol%201.pdf

 

Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

 

Genesis 17 - Gen. 6:4-8 - WHO ARE THE NEPHILIM?

In this lesson we confront some awesome questions?  The first is who are the Nephilim?  For us in the 21st century many say the nephilim are fallen angels.  Where did that come from?  We will see it is one opinion coming from both some non-Biblical literature of the late first century and the Zohar, a Jewish book of mysticism written in the Middle Ages.  Upon further study, however, we find that other great rabbis disagreed with this opinion and they offered two other views.  (For further study from a Jewish scholarly source I recommend this link - click here to read scholarly background on the nephilim from The Jewish Virtual Library - https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nephilim).  Both views of these rabbis of the Middle Ages, Rashi and Ibn Ezra, great rabbis in their own right, disagree.  They also disagree with each other and with the view the nephilim are evil fallen angels.  So, in Jewish literature we have at least three distinct views and each of them contradict the others.  So, we Christians have bought into one view that has no Biblical basis at all.  

Once again, let us confront this issue.  Let us see if God's word helps us with a more realistic view of the nephilim.  It does!

The second question is why did God destroy all mankind with the flood except for one man, Noah?  Noah's sons and their wives and Noah's wife were rescued as well.  But, Noah is the ONLY righteous man of his time not his sons, their wives, or Noah's wife.  Why them?  Moreover, Genesis chapters 1-11 is about non-Hebrews.  Noah is not a Hebrew!  This is related to all of us, all mankind.  

I agree that the flood did happen.  There is too much evidence from the cultures of the ancient Middle East that strongly suggest that the flood was real.  But, so many today focus on trying to prove the flood had to be worldwide, or others who argue the flood was local, and others who say it is a myth. (I think it was local based upon the Hebrew and not English.) I suggest this focus is clouding the real issue, why did God do the flood?  What was the result?  Is there something we are missing that we can't see? 

I will present a view that relates to Jesus' words in John 5:39 ... "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" (John 5:39 NASB).  All they had was the Old Testament in Jesus' day.  Therefore, is there a connection with the purposes of the flood and the reason for the Cross?  There is.  It seems likely the flood testifies of the Messiah.

 

Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

 

Genesis 16 - Gen.6:1-7:12 THE SONS OF GOD

In Gen. 6:2 we come across a troubling phrase.  Let's look at it ...

Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. (Gen 6:1-2)

If we let the Bible translate the Bible we find that this exact phrase is used in four different ways in the Hebrew.  First, we find this Hebrew phrase in Job 1:6, 2:1, and 38:7 where it is used to describe spiritual beings, likely angels in heaven with God.  Second, it is used in a slightly different format meaning all of Israel in Deut. 14:1.  Third, in Psalm 82:6 the phrase is used to describe the sons of rulers or kings.  And finally, according to John Currid in his Torah commentary, "A Study Commentary: Genesis," it also can mean the descendants of Seth, the godly line directly from Adam who is called the "son of God" by Luke in his gospel in Luke 3:38.

So, who are the sons of God or the sons of the gods in verse 6:2?  The phrase בני האלהים Benay Eloheem is made up to two plural nouns.  The first is sons, or Benay.  The second in Eloheem, translated commonly as God or gods.   Are these "sons of God" fallen angels?  Are they the Nephileem as noted in verse 6:4?  Are they some weird pagan spiritual beings?

We will again put the Bible into its historical context.  We will again try and "hear" God's word like the intended audience of the Torah, the Hebrews coming out of Egypt.  Dennis Prager in his commentary on Genesis, "The Rational Bible: Genesis," comments that this is an ancient divine document and when God inspires Moses to write to the Hebrews coming out of Egypt 3500 years ago all this made sense to them. 

Let us put the words of the Bible into their historical context and seek the way they may have understood the phrase the "sons of God;" how the Hebrews heard it coming out of Egypt may give us an alternative view that makes sense to us in the 21st century as well.  Come.  Join us.  Let's go see.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0