The Literal Meaning of Genesis
of the Paradise which he cultivated, he was condemned and received a field like himself, for God said, Thorns and thtstles it shall bring forth to you.>*
21. But if we understand the expression as meaning "'to cultivate Paradise" and "to guard Paradise," man could indeed cultivate Paradise, as explained above, by the art of agriculture; he could not guard it, however, against evil or hostile men because there were none, but perhaps against beasts. But how would this be? And why? Beasts were surely not a threat to man until he had sinned. For it is later said that when the beasts were brought to him, he gave names to them all.55 Moreover, on the sixth day, by the law of God's word, he received food in common with all the beasts.°° And if there was already something to fear in the beasts, how could one man protect this Paradise? For it was no small place that was watered by such a mighty river. And he would have to guard it if he were able to fortify it on all sides with a wall of such a nature and such a size that a serpent would not be able to make its way in. But it would be an incredible feat if he could have kept all the serpents out before he had fortified the garden on all sides.
22. Hence, why do we pass over the interpretation that is right before our eyes? Man was indeed placed in Paradise to cultivate it by the art of agriculture, as I have argued above. The exercise of this art did not involve wearisome toil but was filled with delights, suggesting noble and salutary thoughts to the mind of a wise man. And he was placed there to guard this same Paradise for himself, so as not to commit any deed by which he would deserve to be expelled from it. Finally, he was also given a command by observing which he would guard Paradise for himself in the sense that if he obeyed it he would not be driven forth from the garden. For a person is rightly said to have failed to guard his possessions if he has acted in such a way as to lose them, even if they are preserved intact for another who has found them or has deserved to receive them.
23. There is another possible meaning for these words, and I think there is good reason for preferring it: that is, God was to cultivate man and guard him.'? For just as man cultivates the earth not to make it earth but to develop it and make it fruitful,