For today’s garden history, I’m taking a look at the Garden
of Eden – not as a theologian, but as a gardener. The book of Genesis in the
Hebrew Bible describes the third day (or period) of creation—after the
appearance of water, but before the division of light into night and day. In
the account (Gen. 1:9b) vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and trees that live on
land and bear fruit with seeds are spoken into existence. Streams come up from
the earth and water the earth.
Further into the account, God gives man the tasks of caring for the garden and naming the animals. To name something requires study and understanding, so the task is as much discovery as work. God also gives man a helpmate, and a warning not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Inevitably, Adam and Eve do just that. In Gen 3:8, we find God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. He calls out to Adam to give an accounting. Instead of an honest dialog, Adam defaults to fear and blame, and man is banished from the garden with the curse of toil.
Later we learn (Gen 2:7 – 9) that God forms man, plants a
garden in the East in Eden, and places man in the garden. The garden is planted
with all kinds of trees – those pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the
middle of the garden are two trees – the Tree of Life, and the Tree of the Knowledge
of Good and Evil. Water flows from the garden (remember the underground
streams), and splits into four head streams (Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and
Euphrates).
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| Detail from a Tree of Life tapestry. |
Further into the account, God gives man the tasks of caring for the garden and naming the animals. To name something requires study and understanding, so the task is as much discovery as work. God also gives man a helpmate, and a warning not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Inevitably, Adam and Eve do just that. In Gen 3:8, we find God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. He calls out to Adam to give an accounting. Instead of an honest dialog, Adam defaults to fear and blame, and man is banished from the garden with the curse of toil.
Within this narrative are several key themes which appear in
garden history:
- The garden is a representation of paradise on earth.
- Water is important in the garden (we will see the four rivers again).
- Tending a garden is a responsibility and pleasure, and a source of learning and discovery.
- The garden is a place for intimacy and fellowship (as depicted in the imagery of God walking the garden in the cool of the day and seeking Adam and Eve for fellowship).
- Trees are used as symbols, and often a focal point for the garden.
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