“All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” (Numbers 13:32-33)
Step into the pages of history and the verses of the Bible, where we find stories about an extraordinary race of giants known as the Nephilim. But who exactly were these Nephilim? And what does the Bible say?
The Nephilim were huge beings. Ancient records and skeletons found worldwide show these beings were up to 20 feet tall. In 1692, in France, there was a discovery of a tomb housing a giant who measured an unbelievable 17 feet tall. Then in 1833, over in California, some soldiers, while digging, uncovered a 12-foot-tall giant with a double set of chompers.
Jump to around 1950, in southeast Turkey, archaeologists discovered tombs that could easily fit giants who were between 14 to 16 feet in height. But these giants weren't just known for their towering presence; they had a reputation for their fierce demeanor. Some even had the unusual feature of having six fingers or toes (2 Samuel 21:20).
One of the most well-known of these giants was Goliath from the Biblical account, a towering figure over nine feet tall. His armor alone weighed a hefty 150 pounds—quite the load to carry into battle! What do you think? Did the Israelites see Nephilim in the land of Canaan?
Read Genesis 6, Numbers 13, and Deuteronomy 2. Can you answer the questions below?
- Who were the Nephilim and where did they come from?
- How did the spies feel about their size compared to the Nephilim when they spied out the land of Canaan?
- What happened to the giant people called Zamzummim when the Ammonites met them?
