583. 'The Nephilim' were called 'mighty' on account of their self-love. This too is clear from many passages in the Word where such people are called 'mighty', as in Jeremiah,

The mighty ones of Babel have ceased fighting; they are seated in their strongholds; their might is deserting them, they have become like women. Jeremiah 51:30.

Here also 'the mighty ones of Babel' stands for those who are eaten up with self-love. In the same prophet,

A sword against the liars, and they will go mad. A sword against her mighty ones, and they will be thrown into confusion. Jeremiah 50:36.

In the same prophet,

I have seen it. They have been thrown into confusion and are turning backward. Their mighty ones have been crushed and have surely fled, and they have not looked back - terror all around! The swift will not flee away, nor the mighty one escape. Mount your horses, and drive your chariots madly on; let the mighty ones go forth - Cush, Put, the Ludim. Jeremiah 46:5-6, 9.

This refers to persuasion resulting from reasonings. In the same prophet,

How do you say, We are mighty, and men of strength for war? Moab has been laid waste. Jeremiah 48:14-15.

In the same prophet,

The city has been taken and its strongholds, possession has been taken of it. The heart of the mighty ones of Moab on that day will be like the heart of a woman in labour. Jeremiah 48:41.

Chapter 49:22 similarly speaks of 'the heart of the mighty ones of Edom'. In the same prophet,

Jehovah has redeemed Jacob, and has reclaimed him from the hand of one mightier than himself. Jeremiah 31:11.

Here a different [Hebrew] expression is used for 'mighty'. The fact that the Anakim, who descended from the Nephilim, were spoken of as 'mighty ones' is clear in Moses,

You are crossing the Jordan today, going to dispossess nations greater and more numerous than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, Who will stand before the sons of Anak? Deuteronomy 9:1-2.

1457. That 'Abram travelled, going on and travelling' means further advance becomes clear from the meaning of 'going on and travelling'. Among the ancients, journeys, travels, and sojournings had no other meaning, and therefore in the internal sense have no other meaning in the Word. The Lord's advances forward into cognitions begin here. That the Lord also was taught like any other child is made clear in Luke,

The young child ¹ grew and became strong in spirit; he was in desert places till the day of His manifestation to Israel. Luke 1:80.

In the same gospel,

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40.

In the same gospel,

Joseph and Jesus' mother after three days found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and answers. When they saw Him they were astonished, but He said to them, How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be in those things that are My Father's? ² Luke 2:46, 49.

He was at that time twelve years old, Luke 2:42. In the same gospel, Jesus advanced in wisdom and in years, ³ and in grace with God and men. Luke 2:52.

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