Eden as a Garden Temple © 2011 Rev. Brian Tice; adapted from Ernest L. Martin, http://www.askelm.com/temple/t040301.htm (1977)

EDEN & NOD parallels TABERNACLE/TEMPLE

Midst of the Garden Entrance from the East presence of HaShem

Tree of Life = Aaron’s rod

Holy of Holies

Rest of the Garden Entrance from the East cherubim = pillars

Sanctuary

Rest of Eden Entrance from the East Kayin/Hevel altar = brazen altar

Court of Israel

Land of Nod (Wandering) Cut off from HaShem Outside Temple Complex

Adam’s duties Genesis 2:15

Same two verbs: db[ & rmv1

Priestly duties Num 3:7-8; 8:25-26; 18:5-6

1 An ancient understanding of the verbs used relates them to priestly service. Targum Neophyti says, “And the

Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to labor (db[) in the Torah and to keep (rmv) its com-

mandments.” Also, The fourth century theologian Ephraim the Syrian preserves this interpretation in

his Commentary on Genesis. He says that “guarding” must mean something spiritual. After all, Adam had no tools

for plowing, and there were no robbers (since there were no other people). There was nothing to “work” or “keep”

in the physical sense, and so Genesis 2:15 must mean that keeping the commandments is in view.