Editing Nephilim (section)

== Origins of belief ==
Archaeologist [[George Ernest Wright|G.E. Wright]] states that belief in the Nephilim, especially as giants, originated from the Hebrews’ contemplation of [[Transjordan (region)|Transjordian]] [[Megalith|megalithic structures]] and [[cyclopean masonry]] walls of Canaanite cities, with some being 18&nbsp;feet thick. Nonetheless, he notes that ancient Canaanites were relatively short, before and after 3000&nbsp;BC, with no significant findings of abnormally sized aborigines.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wright |first=George Ernest |date=1938 |title=Troglodytes and giants in Palestine |journal=Journal of Biblical Literature |volume=57 |issue=3 |pages=305–309 |doi=10.2307/3259820 |jstor=3259820 }}</ref> Biblical professor Brian R. Doak believes that Nephilim lore is a [[polemic]] against the tropes of [[Epic poetry|epic]] and [[Hero|heroism]], commonly found in the worldviews of cultures similar to the Hebrews'.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Doak |first=Brian R. |year=2011 |title=The last of the Rephaim: Conquest and cataclysm in the heroic ages of ancient Israel |journal=Harvard University  |url=https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=ccs |via=[[George Fox University]] }}</ref> J.C. Greenfield similarly believes that Nephilim lore is based on "the negative aspects of the [[Apkallu]] tradition" in [[Sumerian mythology]].<ref name=vdToorn-Becking-vdHorst-1999>{{cite book |last1=van der Toorn |first1=Karel |last2=Becking |first2=Bob |last3=van der Horst |first3=Pieter Willem |year=1999 |title=Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible |publisher=Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing |isbn=978-0-8028-2491-2 |lang=en |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yCkRz5pfxz0C&q=apkallu }}</ref>{{rp|style=ama|pp= [https://books.google.com/books?id=yCkRz5pfxz0C&pg=PA72 72–74] }} The Apkallu were seven [[antediluvian]] [[culture hero]]es who were praised for their exceptional wisdom. In fact, some were called "the son of [[Ea (god Enki)|Ea]]".<ref name=vdToorn-Becking-vdHorst-1999/>{{rp|style=ama|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=yCkRz5pfxz0C&pg=PA73 73]}}

Brand ''et al''. (2023)<ref name=":7"/> argue that the Nephilim refer to elite or royal warriors from legendary antiquity, who do not necessarily have abnormal stature or divine parentage. They view the Nephilim in Numbers&nbsp;13-14 as autochthonous elite warriors who dwelt in pre-Israelite Canaan.<ref name=":7"/> Ellen White believes that their purpose, narratively speaking, is to die so that [[Chosen people|God's chosen]], who are the "[[underdog|underdogs]]", could prevail.<ref name=White-2024>{{cite web |last=White |first=Ellen |year=2024 |title=Who are the Nephilim? |website=Biblical Archaeology Society (biblicalarchaeology.org) |url=https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/hebrew-bible/who-are-the-nephilim/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326102415/https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/hebrew-bible/who-are-the-nephilim/ |archive-date=March 26, 2024}}</ref>

The [[Anakim|Anakites]], who are associated with the Nephilim,<ref name=White-2023>{{cite web |last=White |first=Ellen |date=2023 |title=Who are the Nephilim? |website=Biblical Archaeology Society (biblicalarchaeology.org) |url=https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/hebrew-bible/who-are-the-nephilim/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827105203/https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/hebrew-bible/who-are-the-nephilim/ |archive-date=27 August 2023}}</ref> are mentioned in the Egyptian [[Execration texts]] of the [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Wyatt |first=Nicolas |year=2001 |title=Space and Time in the Religious Life of the Near East |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-0-567-04942-1  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yz6vAwAAQBAJ }}</ref> (2055–1650&nbsp;BC) as one of Egypt's political enemies in Canaan.{{sfn|Wyatt|2001}}