Jude 5-16 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Jude 1:5-16: 1:5-16 This section elaborates on the “condemnation recorded long ago” (1:4 ) by applying to the false teachers Old Testament examples of God’s judgment. 1:5 The preexistent Jesus rescued the people of Israel from Egypt and later destroyed the unfaithful (cp. 1 Cor 10:4 ). • After rescuing the nation of Israel from Egypt , God led them toward the Promised Land. Most of the people did not trust the Lord to protect them. Because of their unbelief, God sentenced that generation (except Joshua and Caleb) to wander in the wilderness until they died (see Num 14 ).

Summary for Jude 1:5-16: 1:5-16 ^a This section elaborates on the “condemnation recorded long ago” (1:4 ^b) by applying to the false teachers Old Testament examples of God’s judgment. 1:5 ^c The preexistent Jesus rescued the people of Israel from Egypt and later destroyed the unfaithful (cp. 1 Cor 10:4 ^d).

• After rescuing the nation of Israel from Egypt, God led them toward the Promised Land. Most of the people did not trust the Lord to protect them. Because of their unbelief, God sentenced that generation (except Joshua and Caleb) to wander in the wilderness until they died (see Num 14 ^e).
1:6 ^f The angels might refer to the fall of Satan and his angelic followers, but no Old Testament passage clearly describes this event (see study notes on Isa 14:12-17; Ezek 28:12-19). Jude was probably referring to Gen 6:1-4 ^g; Jewish tradition understood the “sons of God” in Gen 6 ^h to be wicked angels and viewed their intercourse with women as the cause of their judgment (see 1 Enoch 6–10; see also study notes on 1 Pet 3:19-20; 2 Pet 2:4). Jude later (Jude 1:14-15 ⁱ) quotes directly from 1 Enoch.
1:7 ^j God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah had become proverbial (see Gen 18:17–19:26 ^k; Luke 17:26-29 ^l).

• neighboring towns: Deuteronomy 29:23 ^m mentions Admah and Zeboiim.

• Every kind of sexual perversion probably refers to homosexuality (Gen 19:5-10 ⁿ).
1:8 ^o supernatural beings: Literally glorious ones, which are probably evil angels. In the Old Testament and in Judaism, angels were given a prominent role in the judgment. The false teachers might have been downplaying the reality of a judgment to come (see 1:18 ^p; 2 Pet 3:3-4 ^q) or denying the glorious origin of these fallen angels (cp. 2 Pet 2:10 ^r).
1:9 ^s Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels: In Jewish tradition, “archangel” was the highest rank of angel (see also 1 Thes 4:16 ^t). Michael is mentioned several other times in Scripture (Dan 10:13 ^u, 21 ^v; 12:1 ^w; Rev 12:7 ^x); the story about him fighting with the devil about Moses’ body is not in the Old Testament but is preserved in Jewish tradition (see Assumption of Moses).
1:11 ^y Cain: See Gen 4:1-16 ^z.

• Balaam: See study note on 2 Pet 2:15.

• Korah: See Num 16:1-35 ^aa.
1:12 ^ab The early Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper as part of shared fellowship meals with one another.
1:13 ^ac The planets were considered to be wandering stars because they moved across the sky in seemingly irregular patterns. The false teachers wandered, and God condemned their sin.
Summary for Jude 1:14-15: 1:14-15 ^ad Enoch was an early descendant of Adam (see Gen 5:18-24 ^ae; 1 Chr 1:3 ^af); the comment in Gen 5:24 ^ag apparently means that Enoch did not die but was taken directly to heaven (cp. 2 Kgs 2:1-13 ^ah; see Heb 11:5 ^ai). This extraordinary commendation from God and the almost complete silence of Scripture about him make Enoch a fascinating character. There are a number of legends about him in Jewish literature, and at least two books of apocalyptic visions written between the Old Testament and the New Testament are attributed to him (1–2 Enoch).