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 judgments 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 (Song of Sol. 4:12-16; Song of Sol. 5:1; Song of Sol. 6:2,11; Song of Sol. 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. Once only we read of a GARDENER (John 20:15), though, since the curse upon the ground, there must always have been some who labored in gardens (compare Gen. 3:19; Song of Sol. 1:6); and in Eden, before the curse, Adam was placed in the garden “to dress it and to keep it” (Gen. 2:15).