The Book of Giants by Joseph B. Lumpkin Summary

The Book of Giants by Joseph B. Lumpkin explores the ancient story of fallen angels called the Watchers who descended to Earth and mated with human women, producing offspring known as the Nephilim—monstrous giants. The narrative follows these giants as they receive prophetic dreams foretelling their destruction in a great flood, ultimately seeking interpretation from Enoch while facing divine judgment for their corruption and violence.

Joseph B. Lumpkin is an author and journalist with a Doctor of Ministry degree from Battlefield Baptist Institute who has written over 25 books. He specializes in religious and esoteric topics, particularly focusing on apocryphal and pseudepigraphal texts, making ancient religious manuscripts accessible to modern readers through translations and commentaries. Lumpkin owns Fifth Estate Publishing and is best known for his work on The Books of Enoch.

The Book of Giants by Joseph B. Lumpkin appeals to readers interested in biblical apocrypha, ancient mythology, and religious studies exploring themes beyond canonical scripture. It's ideal for those fascinated by angelic mythology, Nephilim stories, and the intersection of celestial and earthly realms. Scholars, theology students, and anyone curious about the expanded narratives of fallen angels and antediluvian history will find this translation valuable and accessible.

The Book of Giants by Joseph B. Lumpkin is worth reading for those seeking deeper understanding of ancient apocryphal literature and the expanded narrative of fallen angels. Lumpkin makes these complex ancient texts accessible through translation and commentary, though some scholars note he uses older translations rather than original manuscripts. The book provides valuable insights into how different cultures interpreted the Watchers and Nephilim mythology across various religious traditions.

The Watchers in The Book of Giants are a group of angels tasked with observing and recording humanity's deeds and progress. These celestial beings abandoned their heavenly posts and descended to Mount Hermon, where they lusted after human women and broke their sacred vows. Two hundred Watchers fell to Earth, mated with women, and produced the Nephilim giants. Key Watchers mentioned include Azazel and Šemihaza (Samyaza), who led the rebellion and were later imprisoned awaiting divine judgment.

The Nephilim in The Book of Giants are the monstrous giant offspring born from the union between the fallen Watchers and human women. These giants wreaked havoc upon Earth, hunting and devouring all forms of life while engaging in violence and sexual abuse. Notable giants include Ohyah, Hahyah, Mahaway, Gilgamesh, and Hobabis, who experienced prophetic dreams foretelling their destruction. Despite their immense physical power, the Nephilim recognized they were doomed and would be reduced to evil spirits after the Flood.

Enoch serves as the divinely appointed messenger and dream interpreter in The Book of Giants, acting as intermediary between the giants and God. When the Nephilim experienced disturbing prophetic dreams, they sent Mahaway to consult Enoch, who had encountered him previously. Enoch interpreted their dreams, foretelling the violent deaths of both Watchers and giants, and delivered God's judgment declaring "no peace to you". He also rebuked the Watchers for their corruption and commanded them to release hostages and pray.

The dreams in The Book of Giants symbolize the impending destruction of the Nephilim and Watchers through the great Flood. Hahyah dreamed of gardeners watering a garden that produced great trees, only to be destroyed by water and fire—representing the Flood that would devastate all but Noah's family. Ohyah witnessed God descending to Earth, setting up thrones and judging based on books—symbolizing divine accountability and judgment day. The vision of a submerged tablet with only three names remaining represented Noah's three sons who would survive.

The Book of Giants explores divine judgment and accountability for transgression, showing how the Watchers' corruption led to inevitable consequences. Central themes include the corruption that occurs when celestial and earthly realms improperly mix, resulting in violence and moral decay. The narrative emphasizes that power without righteousness leads to destruction, as the physically mighty giants prove powerless against divine authority. Additional themes include fear and desperation facing mortality, the hope of renewal after destruction, and the ongoing cosmic battle between good and evil forces.

The Book of Giants and the Book of Enoch are companion texts that both concern the fallen Watchers and their Nephilim offspring. Both books detail the story of rebellious angels who descended to Earth and corrupted humanity, with Enoch serving as the prophetic voice in each narrative. The Book of Giants expands on themes introduced in Enoch, providing additional details about the giants' experiences, dreams, and ultimate fate. Multiple versions of The Book of Giants exist—including Qumran and Manichean texts—across various languages and religious traditions.

According to The Book of Giants, the Watchers were imprisoned and condemned by God for their sins of mating with humans and producing corrupt offspring. The archangel Raphael delivered judgment, telling them they would be destroyed and commanding them to release hostages. The giants, despite their fears and pleas for mercy, were told by Enoch there would be "no peace" and they would perish violently in the coming Flood. After their physical deaths, the giants' spirits would be stripped from their bodies and reduced to evil spirits roaming the earth.

Joseph B. Lumpkin's The Book of Giants examines multiple ancient versions of this text, including the Aramaic fragments discovered at Qumran and the Manichean version that spread widely across cultures. The book discusses how various versions exist in Syriac, Greek, Persian, Sogdian, Uyghur, and Arabic, with each incorporating local myths and religious beliefs. Lumpkin's work explores how different traditions—including the 2 Enoch (Secrets of Enoch) version—adapted the core story while maintaining central themes about the Watchers, Nephilim, and divine judgment.