בראשית, פרק ו׳, פסוק ב׳

The catastrophic unraveling of human morality just before the Flood begins not at the bottom of society, but at its very peak. The global decree of destruction was triggered by an era of profound corruption where the strong exploited their status to abuse the weak, shattering the sacred boundaries of family and modesty. The identity of these powerful figures is a subject of deep historical reflection. The primary approach among commentators is that they were the social and political elite—judges, ministers, and national leaders. Instead of upholding justice, these men weaponized their authority to rob and oppress with impunity, and no one dared stand in their way [רש״י, רמב״ן, רד״ק, הטור הארוך, רבנו בחיי, תולדות יצחק, חזקוני].

Others view them as spiritually elevated individuals, perhaps priests or spiritual guides, who abandoned their sacred callings. They sank into worldly lusts, elevating the pursuit of women into an obsessive ideal [אבן עזרא, העמק דבר, הכתב והקבלה, ביאור יש״ר, קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. Additional perspectives describe them as towering, violent giants who terrorized the populace [רלב״ג, רא״ש, שד״ל], or long-lived astrologers who used their pain-free existence to study the cosmos [רד״ק, מחוקקי יהודה]. A deeper, mystical tradition identifies them as higher beings or angels who descended to earth, took physical form, and succumbed to human temptation. Conversely, some suggest they were lower-level spirits, or that the masses merely held superstitious beliefs attributing divine traits to powerful men [שד״ל, תורה תמימה, ברכת אשר, קאסוטו, מלבי״ם], while another view simply regards them as messengers of God [רש״י, לבוש האורה].

In stark contrast to these powerful figures, the women they pursued were the daughters of the defenseless masses. These were ordinary people entirely incapable of resisting the tyranny of the ruling class [רד״ק, ביאור יש״ר], or perhaps individuals from an inferior societal lineage [אבן עזרא, מחוקקי יהודה]. The motivation behind these abductions was driven by intense physical attraction, though commentators differ on its exact nature. Many understand this simply as a desire for natural beauty [רד״ק, רא״ש, ביאור יש״ר, קאסוטו] or practical usefulness in worldly matters [העמק דבר]. However, a darker reality is uncovered by those who explain that the attraction was based on temporary adornment. The powerful elite would wait for the precise moment a bride was beautifully dressed and prepared for her wedding day, only to ambush and kidnap her right before she entered the canopy [רש״י, מזרחי, הכתב והקבלה, תולדות יצחק, גור אריה, שפתי חכמים].

The absolute breakdown of society culminated in a system of normalized sexual violence. The overwhelming consensus is that these women were taken by force and robbery. The elite claimed whomever they desired, kidnapping both single and married women. Some traditions suggest this depravity expanded to crossing all natural boundaries, including the taking of males and animals [רש״י, רמב״ן, רד״ק, מזרחי, גור אריה, דברי דוד]. This tyranny was institutionalized to the point where a local ruler or nobleman would routinely violate an adorned bride before her husband [רד״ק, הכתב והקבלה, תולדות יצחק]. Alternatively, this selection process may not have been random violence, but a calculated, astrological breeding program designed to match zodiac signs and produce superhuman offspring [אבן עזרא, מחוקקי יהודה]. A minority perspective, however, suggests that these unions were actually legal and entirely consensual. In this view, the true tragedy was not rape or adultery, but the unnatural blending of distinct classes and entities—a catastrophic breaking of boundaries that ultimately unraveled the moral fabric of the entire human race [קאסוטו].