Garden, Gardener

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 1min
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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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. 13:1010And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. (Genesis 13:10)). It is also used figuratively of great blessing: when Israel is restored, “their soul shall be as a watered garden” (Jer. 31:1212Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. (Jeremiah 31:12)); whereas under God’s judgments they were like a garden that had no water (Isa. 1:3030For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. (Isaiah 1:30)).
The garden was also looked upon as a place of delights, and is often used figuratively in this sense (Song of Sol. 4:12-1612A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 13Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, 14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: 15A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. 16Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. (Song of Solomon 4:12‑16); Song of Sol. 5:11I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. (Song of Solomon 5:1); Song of Sol. 6:2,112My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. (Song of Solomon 6:2)
11I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. (Song of Solomon 6:11); Song of Sol. 8:1313Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it. (Song of Solomon 8:13)). Gardens were also secluded places of secret sin (Isa. 65:33A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; (Isaiah 65:3); Isa. 66:1717They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 66:17)).