Who were the Nephilim?

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I have an older version of the New American Bible. Chapter 6 of Genesis doesn’t give a clear understanding of their origin or why they existed. In a footnote, they are descibed as “sons of Heaven” or literally “sons of the gods” or the sons of God" i.e. “the celestial beings of mythology”. Their origin comes right ahead of the warning of the Flood. Did their existance have any relation to the people wiped out in it?
 
This is one of the many examples of the AWFUL commentary given by the NAB (New American Bible). The Nephilim were the offspring of the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men.” The NAB here ignores majority commentary of the Church Fathers that the Nephilim were the mixed offspring of Seth’s line (the sons of God, ie righteous) and the ‘unrighteous’ daughters of man (cain’s kids). This is also the minority opinion in early Jewish schools.

Jewish commentaries sometimes use the fact that Genesis 6:4 says “At that time the Nephilim appeared on earth (as well as later)” to suggest that the Flood of Noah was not a global deluge, and “Nephilim” are also mentioned in Numbers 13:33.

The NAB in some places has interesting and helpful commentary, in many other places it completely is heretical, or at least unreasonable.
 
Agreed, the NAB has terrible commentary that makes one wonder if it’s even written by Catholic editors - at least ones on the more liberal side of theology.

I think the point that the Nephilim represent a baser part of humanity is very valid in the Jewish understanding of narration.

It’s also not impossible that these are derived from neighboring pagan tribes - the idea of a demi-god or half-celestial/half-terrestrial race, not unlike the Greek titans. In this narration, though, they aren’t seen as beings to be worshipped but rather a fallen part of creation from which God must cleave His people, and hence the Flood. The Covenant with Noah and with Moses was one where holiness is separation, where animals to be sacrificed and people’s lives were ones marked by separateness and dedication to the Lord. The Nephilim would provide a good contrast for this analogy of the Covenant.

Lastly, I heard Bible Answer Man try to tackle this one - he walked right over it and called it essentially irrelevant and gobbledygook.
 
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