Again, we are talking about the last eight passages of scripture where the traditional translations have used the word dead in place of the Hebrew word Repha’iym.  A few passages have been discussed already, and a few remain:

Mishlei (Proverbs) 9:13-18

A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing. 14 For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wants understanding, she says to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knows not that the (dead) Rapha’iym are there; and that her guests are in the depths of She’ol.

As we have explored this subject now for several days, it becomes more and more apparent that this story of the fallen Watchers having relations with women to bring forth in the first generation Rapha’iym is both well-known among the writers of the Tanakh, and easily understood among the talmidiym of scripture. 

The understanding in this proverb is that the lure of the foolish woman advertising stolen waters and bread eaten in secret is the same as the lust which brought forth the Rapha’iym, who are declared to be residents of the depths of She’ol. 

We have, therefore, yet another scriptural reference as a witness to this proposition.

Shalomah has even more to say on this subject, however:

Mishlei (Proverbs) 21:16

The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the (dead) Rapha’iym.

The discussion again makes reference that at the outset, understanding includes knowing this story about the fallen Watchers, their relations with women, their offspring which were the giants known as Rapha’iym, and their ultimate fate in She’ol.  

For further reading...

The Giants - Part 1

The Giants - Part 2

The Giants - Part 3

The Giants - Part 4