Giants in the Land, Courage in the Lord

In the Torah, there are many different names given for cities and tribes and kings that it can be easy to overlook or gloss over. Yet some of these names that mean so little to us evoked powerful reactions out of Israel in their day. The 10 spies that gave a bad report to all of Israel [Num. 13:32-33] cited the Nephilim as a reason to fear the land. God, through Moses, encourages Israel not to fear the sons of Anakim [Deut. 9:1-3] as they prepare to enter the land.

Who are these figures, and what can we know about them?

There are three names that are used for these “giants” in the Torah. They are not used interchangeably, but they are used inter-connectedly. By this I mean they appear to all be related and the people fear them and describe them as though they are giant and fierce.

These three names include: Nephilim, Rephaim, and Anakim.

We first see reference to the Nephilim in Genesis 6 where Moses describes the sin on Earth that led God to regret that he made man. We see reference in verse 4 that says, “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came into the daughters of man, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.”

There is a lot of debate as to who these “sons of God” are. Some speculate based on linguistic connections that they are angels; others argue from a literary development they are the sinful descendants of Cain. However, no matter which interpretation is taken it is clear they are “mighty men” and men of “renown.”

Next, we see in Gen. 14:4-5 there is a reference to the Rephaim when Chedorlaomer led some other kings in his coalition/alliance to defeat the Rephaim. Not much explanation is given and therefore leaves us scratching our heads as to what these names mean and why there are significant.

Next in Numbers 13, the spies scope out the land and report back with fear over the Nephilim they saw. Here the text tells us that the sons of Anak (Anakim) are the same as the Nephilim and they are again described. This time they compare themselves to grasshoppers using simile to describe their stature, again, like giants.

Later in Numbers chapter 21, a new generation is born and given victory over King Og as the people of Israel approach the Jordan River to enter the promised land.

This King Og is described in more detail in Deuteronomy chapter 3 where we get some surprising connections. First, we learn that King Og is a descendent (a remnant) of the Rephaim. Then, we learn what that means where we learn he had a bed made for him that was fourteen feet long and made of iron (presumably to handle his large size).

This description of him as a remnant of the Rephaim ties him to the Nephilim and the Anakim after reading Deut. 2:8-11 where Moses explains that being an Anakim makes one “tall.” And, he then goes on to say that Anakim are synonymous with Rephaim, even though the Moabites give them another name (Emim).

What purpose do they serve in the text?

Thus far, even with all else being a tad confusing, we can see clearly now that these Rephaim, Anakim, and Nephilim are all interconnected, and represent some mighty, tall, giant-like group in the land.

These remarks help us to understand that the spies that scoped out the land saw the power and the might of these sinful men (for God commanded Israel to disposes them from the land) and were afraid.

In Deuteronomy 9, we see what the Lord has to say about them:

[1] “Hear, O Israel: you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven, [2] a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’ [3] Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the LORD your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the LORD has promised you. (ESV)

These giants in the land were meant to be seen as mightier than Israel. The truth is, they are stronger and greater than the men in Israel. However, the Lord has promised to be a consuming fire for Israel. Israel is to “be strong and courageous” [Josh 1], but the Lord is the only reason they will receive victory.

Ultimately, this comes to a beautiful conclusion when Caleb, the other faithful spy alongside Joshua, receives his opportunity to enter the promised land. In Joshua 14 Caleb arises in the congregation of Israel and says:

“You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. [7] I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. [8] But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. [9] And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’ [10] And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. [11] I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. [12] So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said.” (ESV)

Here, Caleb shows such faith and determination to trust in the Lord that even as an 85-year-old man, he asks that his inheritance be the very hills that these giants live in. We see the result of his faithfulness in Joshua 15:

[13] According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). [14] And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak. [15] And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir. Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.

Caleb’s faith results in a clear victory for him and for all of Israel, but it doesn’t stop there! Next, he rallies more men to take courage and seize the land:

[16] And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.” [17] And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. (ESV)

Othniel would go on to be the first judge over Israel and bring 40 years of peace in the land. Showing the fulfillment of this thread that we began to pull all the way back in Genesis chapter 6. These sons of Anak, also called the Anakim, or the Rephaim, or the Nephilim, were mighty and tall and renowned, and the fear they inspired in the people of Israel was real. Yet God provided victory and strength to those who depended on Him. And, those that trusted in the Lord established a legacy of faithfulness and peace for future generations.

The message is clear. Be strong and courageous. Fear the Lord and not man. Obey his commandments and encourage others to follow in joyful obedience.