Why the Lord Placed Adam in the Garden of Eden

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 22:5

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden" (Genesis 2:15). Rabbi Yehudah says: He elevated him, as in the verse, "And the peoples shall take them and bring them to their place" (Isaiah 14:2). Rabbi Nechemiah says: He persuaded him, as in the verse, "Take words with you" (Hosea 14:3). Rabbi Yudan says: He gave him rest, and shielded him, and made him delicate and pampered with all the trees of the Garden of Eden. "And He placed him [vayanichehu]" means that He gave him the commandment of the Shabbat, as in the verse, "And He rested [vayanach] on the seventh day" (Exodus 20:11). "To work it [le'ovdah]" corresponds to "Six days you shall labor" (Exodus 20:9). "And to keep it [uleshomrah]" corresponds to "Keep [shamor] the day of the Shabbat" (Deuteronomy 5:12).

Themes

EdenShabbatAdam Eve

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