Paradise

The word “paradise” is probably of Persian origin. It occurs but three times in the Old Testament, namely, in Song of Solomon 4:13, Ecclesiastes 2:5, and Nehemiah 2:8. In the first of these passages it means “garden”; in the second and third, “park.” In the apocalypses and in the Talmud the word is used of the Garden of Eden and its heavenly prototype (comp. references in Weber’s “Jüdische Theologie,” 2d ed., 1897, pp. 344 et seq.).

In the Old Testament, however, one has to do with the earthly Garden of Eden, of which there are two representations: one in Genesis 2, 3, and the other in Ezekiel 28:13-17. According to the first of these passages YHWH planted a garden “eastward in Eden,” in which were the tree of life and the tree of knowledge; and He gave it to Adam to keep. There “went out” from this garden a river which was divided and became “four heads.” The names of these were Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel (Tigris), and Euphrates. Adam and Eve were permitted to eat of all the trees of the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In this garden were created and placed all sorts of animals; but none of these proved a suitable companion for man. Accordingly a woman was created. Adam and Eve then lived in the garden without clothing.

The most subtle of the creatures in the garden was the serpent. He questioned the woman concerning the trees of which she and Adam might eat, and was told that they were prohibited from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and that death would result from such an act. The serpent declared that, so far from this being the case, if Adam and Eve were to eat of it they would become like gods. Eve was tempted and ate; then she persuaded Adam to eat. The result of this act was that the primitive pair realized their nakedness and began to make clothing. It was declared that the ground would bring forth to man thorns and thistles, that he should with difficulty wrest from it his sustenance, and that woman should bring forth children in pain. The pair were then expelled from Eden, lest they should eat of the tree of life. To prevent their return cherubim were placed at the entrance of the garden. It is probable that this account intended to locate the garden in Mesopotamia. The mention of the Tigris and Euphrates indicate this, though the allusion to the lands of Havilah and Cush, around which the Pison and the Gihon flowed, is not so clear.

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Author: Jewish Encyclopedia

Keywords: Paradise, Garden of Eden, Eden, Heaven, River of life, Paradise garden Eden, Persian garden

Source: Isidore Singer (editor), The Jewish Encyclopedia (12 Volumes), (1906).

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