Garden, Gardener
Garden, Gardener
In the East the gardens were portions of ground under culture, and often enclosed by walls, in which fruit and herbs were grown. Water was always necessary: in the garden of Eden there was a river by which it was watered; and hence a fruitful place was described as well watered, ‘as the garden of the Lord.’ Gen 13:10. It is also used figuratively of great blessing: when Israel is restored, “their soul shall be as a watered garden,” Jer 31:12; whereas under God’s judgements they were like a garden that had no water. Isa 1:30.
The garden was also looked upon as a place of delights, and is often used figuratively in this sense in the Canticles; Son 4:12-16; Son 5:1; Son 6:2; Son 6:11; Son 8:13. Gardens were also secluded places of secret sin. Isa 65:3 ; Isa 66:17.
The two most noted gardens in scripture were the gardens of EDEN and of GETHSEMANE, q.v. Once only we read of a GARDENER, Joh 20:15, though, since the curse upon the ground, there must always have been some who laboured in gardens: cf. Gen 3:19; Son 1:6; and in Eden, before the curse, Adam was placed in the garden ‘to dress it and to keep it.’ Gen 2:15.