While I agree with you that the antediluvian world things naturally grew larger, I have do disagree with the interpretation you have of that text. This argument/debate has been going on for a couple of generations. I am just a layperson and boast no credentials of clergy or pastoral leadership, however, I did a pretty exhaustive study on this subject.
Not to get into a exhaustive scripture slung exchange here but I just want to try to emphasize to you that the b'nai elohim reference (found in Gen 6:1) is also found in Job (the oldest book in the Bible) which also translates to sons of God. Now, these sons of God took human wives (daughters of men) all that they chose and had offspring called "nephilim". My position is why mention that if it wasn't something out of the ordinary? or was the writer trying to explain how these angel/human hybrids got here?
The short of it, is these sons of God (also known as the watchers) transgressed against God by doing this. In the apocryphal book of Enoch, they are actually named. They did this to pollute the blood line of Man and therefore thwart the plan of God to deliver his Son thru seed of Man as God said in Gen 3:15. Now, if you wonder where the Giants came from before that look a Gen 3:15 real close, which seed is the seed of Man and the seed of the serpent?. These particular b'nai Elohim are also called the Fallen Angels, although throughout the Old Testament they are called different names, check the book of Jude and they have been judged and sentenced.
Now Gen 4:1 finds Eve saying with help from the Lord I have brought forth a man. What else might she have expected? She was beguiled by the Serpent (tricked) and somehow childbirth became painful and she would only seek out her husband from there on out? What, she could only eat out of his garden?....I suppose you could stay with your G rated opinion about biting into the fruit (apple) on the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When the bible talks about fruits and seed it usually means offspring and works.
The Nephilim were the offspring of fallen b'nai Elohim. They were Human Hybrids, just like before when Eve was beguiled. They were just part of the plan to thwart God's plan for Man's redemption through Christ Jesus. Look in the beginning Chapter of Matthew, I'll bet you find a genealogy list from Adam to Joseph through the House of David. This is no accident.
Sorry for the long post, this is a very deep type of conversation and one where you need to make sure you are rightly dividing scripture unto truth. This is the short version as I have come to understand it. If you are a brother in Christ please do not let this offend you, let it perhaps challenge you to study for yourself as I have done.
FRegards
I’ve read up on it. I’ve also talked to Jewish Rabbis, as it is a Jewish book that was written for a Jewish reader. One of the big issues in Scripture is the schism between God’s people and the world of men. This schism started with Cain and Abel and would continue to the end. As Christ said that the world would be as though it was in the days of Noah just before the end, what is the one thing that is happening now that hasn’t happened before?
It’s not as though evil is new nor the terrible acts that are new, because it was even more violent back in history. The one thing that is of recent development is the attempt to try and create a system where there is no difference between God’s people and the world of men. Chrislam, as well as recent statements from the Pope stating that Muslims should marry the non -Muslim population are new statements as man’s attempt to bring peace in the world.
That is what is new and probably a sign of the end. That is what I believe, based on my own study and talking with Rabbi’s, as to whom the Nephilim were. They are the result of that joining and blending of God’s people and the world of men.