“He banished the man; He stationed the cherubs east of the Garden of Eden, and the flame of the ever-turning sword, to guard the path of the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). “He banished [vaygaresh] the man” – Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Like a priest’s daughter22Who married a priest. who was divorced [nitgarsha] and cannot return.23She cannot return to her husband because it is prohibited for a priest to marry a divorcee.
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Like an Israelite’s daughter24Who married an Israelite. who was divorced and can return. According to Rabbi Yoḥanan’s opinion, He dealt with him harshly. According to Reish Lakish’s opinion, He dealt with him mercifully. Another matter, “He banished” – He showed him the destruction of the Temple, just as it says: “He has ground [vayagres] my teeth with gravel” (Lamentations 3:16).
Rabbi Luleyani bar Tavri said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: He banished him to an empty field [migrash] adjacent to Eden and deployed guards there to guard it. That is what is written: “I will command the clouds from pouring rain upon it” (Isaiah 5:6).25That passage deals with God’s disappointment with Israel, who is compared to a derelict vineyard. This reflects God’s disappointment with Adam, and the need to post guards to keep him from returning to the Garden.