א וַיְהִי כִּי-הֵחֵל הָאָדָם, לָרֹב עַל-פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה; וּבָנוֹת, יֻלְּדוּ לָהֶם. ב וַיִּרְאוּ בְנֵי-הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת-בְּנוֹת הָאָדָם, כִּי טֹבֹת הֵנָּה; וַיִּקְחוּ לָהֶם נָשִׁים, מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בָּחָרוּ.
When men began to increase on earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God (b’nei ha’elohim) saw the daughters of men (b’not ha’adam) and how beautiful they were and they took women for themselves from among all they chose. [Translation by Rabbi Steve Greenberg]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. The word "elohim" has various god-related meanings, some divine and some not. These two verses are consequently open to very different interpretations based on how we understand "elohim". Can you suggest two of the those?
2. "Taking women" is also open to multiple meanings. What might those be?
3. What do you think the last phrase adds to the meaning of the verse?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)