Garden Was Prepared

Excerpt

Having prepared the garden for man’s reception, the Lord God took the man. “Not physically lifting him up and putting him down in the garden, but simply exerting an influence upon him which induced him, in the exercise of his free agency, to go. He went in consequence of a secret impulse or an open command of his Maker” (Bush). And put him into the garden; literally, caused him to rest in it as an abode of happiness and peace. To dress it. I. e. to till, cultivate, and work it. This would almost seem to hint that the aurea œtas of classical poetry was but a dream—a reminiscence of Eden, perhaps, but idealised. Even the plants, flowers, and trees of Eden stood in need of cultivation from the hand of man, and would speedily have degenerated without his attention. And to keep it. Neither were the animals all so peaceful and domesticated that Adam did not need to fence his garden against their depredations. Doubtless there is here too an ominous hint of the existence of that greater adversary against whom he was appointed to watch. More

Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. Genesis. London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909. Print. The Pulpit Commentary.