Genesis 2:8

EXPOSITION

In accordance with a well-known characteristic of Hebrew composition, the writer, having carried his subject forward to a convenient place of rest, now reverts to a point of time in the six days antecedent to man's appearance on the earth. In anticipation of his arrival, it was needful that a suitable abode should be prepared for his reception. Accordingly, having already mentioned the creation of plants, trees, and flowers, the narrative proceeds to describe the construction of Adam's early home. And the Lord God (Jehovah Elohim) planted — i.e. specially prepared— a garden ( gan , a place protected by a fence, from ganan , to cover; hence a garden: cf. Deuteronomy 2:10 ; 1 Kings 21:2 ; Isaiah 51:3 ; LXX ; παρα ì δεισος ; Vulgate, paradisus ; whence English, paradise, Luke 23:43 ) eastward ( mekedem , literally, from the front quarter, not from the beginning,— α ̓ πο α ̓ ρχη ͂ ς , Aquila; ε ̓ ν πρω ͂ τοις , Theodotion; a principio , Vulgate,—but in the region lying towards the east of Palestine— LXX ; κατ ἀνατολὰς ) in (not of, as Murphy, who renders "in the east of Eden") Eden (delight; Greek, η ̔ δονη ì : cf. Hedenesh, or Heden, the birthplace of Zoroaster—Kalisch). The word is not merely descriptive of the beauty and fertility of the garden ( paradisus voluptatis , Vulg; of. παρα ì δεισος της τρυφης , LXX . ( Joel 2:3 ). On the ground of possessing similar qualities, other districts and places were subsequently termed Edens: cf. 2 Kings 19:12 ; Isaiah 37:12 ; Isaiah 51:3 ; Ezekiel 27:23 ; Amos 1:5 ), but likewise indicates its locality, which is afterwards more exactly defined ( Amos 1:10 , Amos 1:14 ). In the mean time it is simply noted that, this enchanting paradise having been specially prepared by Jehovah, there he put the man (Adam) whom he had formed.