be surprised if it should prove impossible to identify Pishon and Giḥon with any known rivers: on the other hand, the mention of the well-known Tigris and Euphrates clearly shows that the form of the myth preserved in Gn. 210-14 located the earthly Paradise in the unknown northerly region whence these rivers flowed. And the conclusion is almost inevitable that the myth took shape in a land watered by these two rivers,—in Babylonia or Mesopotamia (see Gressmann, ARW, x. 346 f.).
15. to till it and to guard it] To reject this clause (Bu.),
or the second member (Di.), as inconsistent with 317ff.
are arbitrary expedients. The ideal existence for man is
not idle enjoyment, but easy and pleasant work; "the
highest aspiration of the Eastern peasant" (Gu.) being to
keep a garden. The question from what the garden had
to be protected is one that should not be pressed.—16 f. The
belief that man lived originally on the natural fruit of trees
(observe the difference from 129) was widespread in antiquity,
and appears in Phœnician mythology.[1] Here, however, the
point lies rather in the restriction than the permission,—in
the imposition of a taboo on one particular tree.—For the
words of the knowledge of good and evil it has been proposed
to substitute "which is in the midst of the garden" (as 33),
on the ground that the revelation of the mysterious property
of the tree was the essence of the serpent's temptation and
must not be anticipated (35) (Bu. Ho. Gu. al.). But the
narrative ought not to be subjected to such rigorous logical
15. The v. is either a resumption of 8b after the insertion of 10-14,
or a duplicate from a parallel document. It is too original to be a
gloss; and since there was no motive for making an interpolation at
8b, the excision of 10-14 seems to lead necessarily to the conclusion
that two sources have been combined.—(
Hebrew characters)] G + (Greek characters) (as
v.8).—(Hebrew characters)] On the two Hiphils of (Hebrew characters) and their distinction in meaning,
see G-K. § 72 ee, and the Lexx.—(Hebrew characters)] GL and most cursives render (Greek characters)
(Greek characters): GA and uncials omit the word.—(Hebrew characters)] Since (Hebrew characters) is nowhere
fem., it is better to point (Hebrew characters) (see Albrecht, ZATW, xvi. 53).—16.
(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters), V ei. Except in v.18, the word is regularly, but
wrongly, treated as nom. pr. by these two Vns. from this point
onwards.—17. (Hebrew characters)] Σ. (Greek characters). In G the vbs. of this v. are all
pl. (as 33. 4).
- ↑ Eus. Præp. Ev. i. 10 (from Philo Byblius): (
Greek characters).
