Source: Michael S. Heiser, Reversing Hermon: Enoch, The Watchers & The Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017), 37–52.
This podcast explores the Mesopotamian concept of the apkallu, mythical beings of immense wisdom who brought civilization before the great flood, to shed light on the biblical account of the Watchers and Nephilim in Genesis 6:1-4. The author argues that understanding the apkallu tradition, which includes beliefs about these figures giving divine knowledge to humans and having hybrid offspring after the flood, is crucial for interpreting Genesis 6:1-4 accurately. Ultimately, the text posits that Genesis 6:1-4 functions as a polemic against Mesopotamian ideas, portraying the actions of these divine beings and their offspring not as beneficial, but as a transgression that led to corruption, a concept further developed in later Jewish literature like the Book of Enoch.
The Nature and Role of the Mesopotamian Apkallu: The sources introduce the Mesopotamian apkallu as legendary creatures of extraordinary wisdom, seven in number, who lived before the great Flood. They are described as divine beings, sometimes appearing as fish-like men or eagle-headed winged creatures, who were created in the primeval deep or the Apsu, a watery realm under the earth often associated with the underworld. The apkallu served the god Ea (Enki) and were responsible for ensuring the correct functioning of the plans of heaven and earth, essentially maintaining cosmic order. Their primary role regarding humanity was that of culture heroes; they taught mankind wisdom, social forms, craftsmanship, and various technologies and skills. They were believed to have passed down wisdom traditions from the antediluvian period, and the authorship of texts dealing with omens, magic, medicine, and other forms of knowledge was attributed to them. This transmission of knowledge was seen positively in Mesopotamian thought, linking the greatness of their civilization, particularly Babylon, to a divine source.
The Parallel between the Apkallu and the Biblical Watchers/Nephilim: A significant theme is the clear parallel drawn between the Mesopotamian apkallu tradition and the account of the Watchers and Nephilim in Genesis 6:1-4 and the Second Temple Jewish text 1 Enoch. Like the apkallu, the Watchers in 1 Enoch are depicted as divine beings who descended to earth and interacted with humanity. Just as the apkallu transmitted various forms of knowledge and crafts to humankind, the Watchers in 1 Enoch are blamed for revealing forbidden secrets and teaching humanity arts and technologies, though this is viewed negatively as a transgression leading to wickedness and depravity. The sources argue that understanding the Mesopotamian backstory is crucial for interpreting Genesis 6:1-4 correctly, suggesting that the "sons of God" in this passage are divine beings, not merely humans from the line of Seth as in some traditional interpretations.
The Hybrid Nature of Post-Flood Apkallu and their Connection to Giants/Nephilim: The sources highlight a key development in the apkallu tradition concerning figures who appeared after the Flood. While the pre-Flood apkallu were considered fully divine, some texts mention post-Flood apkallu who are described as being "of human descent." One specific example is the fourth post-Flood apkallu, noted as being only "two-thirds apkallu." This hybrid status is explicitly linked to the biblical Nephilim, who are the offspring of the "sons of God" and human women in Genesis 6. The texts connect this concept to the famous Mesopotamian hero Gilgamesh, who is also described in the epic as being "two-thirds divine, and one-third human." Gilgamesh is further associated with the apkallu and described as having a gigantic stature. Jewish texts like the Book of Giants explicitly depict Gilgamesh as one of the giant Nephilim, reinforcing this parallel between the hybrid post-Flood apkallu and the biblical/Enochian giants.
The Judgment and Banishment of the Apkallu/Watchers: Another major topic is the punishment and judgment faced by these figures. In Mesopotamian tradition, there is evidence that apkallu were sometimes perceived negatively, associated with malevolent deeds, hubris, and witchcraft. Some post-Flood apkallu are said to have angered the gods. The sources connect this to The Erra Epic, where the god Marduk speaks of sending the craftsmen (a term applied to apkallu) down to the Apsu after the Flood and preventing their return, also changing the location of sacred items like the mēsu-tree and elmešu stone. This act is interpreted as a banishment from Marduk's presence and the place where cosmic order was maintained. This is presented as a direct parallel to the judgment of the Watchers in 1 Enoch, who are cast away from God, confined forever in a fiery abyss or prison described as a chasm similar to the Apsu or netherworld ("great earth"). This suggests that both Mesopotamian and Jewish traditions depict these beings being punished and removed from their former position or sphere of influence.
The Significance of Transmitted Divine Knowledge and its Reception: The sources emphasize the profound importance placed by Mesopotamians, particularly Babylonian scribes and kings, on the idea that their extensive knowledge, technologies, and cultural achievements originated from a divine source, specifically the antediluvian apkallu. This divine connection was used to legitimize status, power, and influence. Learned scribes claimed to inherit this ancient, sometimes secret, knowledge from the apkallu, with some linking their own scholarly work to these sages by titling treatises with their names. This belief system positioned the apkallu as the originators of Mesopotamian civilization's key elements. The sources note that the entire repository of knowledge indispensable for civilization was traced back to the wisdom of the apkallu, a role directly paralleling the knowledge bestowed by the Watchers in 1 Enoch.
Genesis 6:1-4 and Enochian Literature as a Polemic Against Mesopotamian Beliefs: The overarching argument is that the biblical account in Genesis 6:1-4 and the expanded narrative in Enochian literature should be understood as a polemic against Mesopotamian beliefs about the apkallu. Instead of seeing the transmission of divine knowledge and interaction between divine beings and humans positively, as the Mesopotamians did, Jewish writers inverted these traditions. The "wisdom" and crafts taught by the Watchers were redefined as forbidden transgressions that promoted promiscuity and violence. The sexual union between divine beings ("sons of God"/Watchers) and human women, which in Mesopotamia had a place in concepts like sacred marriage and legitimizing rulers as "seed preserved from before the flood," was depicted as a sacrilegious act and a source of irreversible corruption in the human world. By demonizing the apkallu figures as "sons of God" and their offspring as the Nephilim, and by associating figures like Gilgamesh with the fallen giants, Jewish authors aimed to challenge and refute the Babylonian narrative of superiority grounded in their apkallu traditions, asserting the preeminence of their own cultural and theological foundations. The very term "Watcher" (Aramaic ʿyryn) may have been adopted or coined in Jewish texts based on the Akkadian term maṣṣarē, used for apkallu figurines buried to avert evil, further solidifying the polemical association.