That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Ver. 2. That the sons of God saw the daughters.] Sons of God; such as had called themselves by his name, Gen 4:26 his peculiar professant people, called sons of Jehovah, Deu 14:1 yea, his firstborn, and so higher than the kings of the earth. Psa 89:27 Hence, after mention made of the four monarchies, a greater than them all succeeds; and that is the "kingdom of the saints of the Most High"; Dan 7:17-18 saints at large he means; all "that have made a covenant with him by sacrifice". Psa 50:5 Now we read of sacrificing Sodomites; Isa 1:10 "sinners in Sion"; Isa 33:14 profligate professors; Mat 7:23 who, though called "Israel," yet are to God "as Ethiopians". Amo 9:7 Such were these sons of God.
Saw the daughters of men that they were fair.] Beauty is a dangerous bait, and lust is sharpsighted. It is not safe gazing on a fair woman. How many have died of the wound in the eye! No one means has so enriched hell as beautiful faces. Take heed our eyes are not windows of wickedness and loopholes of lust. Make "a covenant with them" as Job; Job 31:1 pray against the abuse of them with David; Psa 119:37 and curb them from forbidden objects, as Nazianzen, who had learned τους σφθαλμους σωφρονιζειν, to nurture his eyes, as himself tells us. See note on " Gen 3:6 "
They took them wives.] Of their own heads, without God's licence, or parents' consent; as Esau did; and of all which they chose, that is, that they liked and loved. Thus, as some marry by their ears, upon mere hearsay; others, by their fingers' ends, for money; so these gallants married by their eyes. They were led by the "lust of their hearts, and sight of their eyes," Pro 31:30 as Solomon's young nobleman; not considering that "favour is deceitful, beauty vanity"; and that many a woman is like Helen without, but Hecuba within, or an earthen "potsherd covered with silver dross". Pro 26:23 a
a Amor formae rationis est oblivio, insaniae proximus, turbat consilia, altos et generosos spiritus frangit. - Jerom.