It’s a question that’s captivated thinkers for ages, and the Midrash of Philo, a collection of interpretations and expansions on the Hebrew Bible attributed to the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria, offers some fascinating answers.
First, Philo suggests it's because the world's movement itself begins in the east, with the rising sun. Think about it: the sun’s journey across the sky, from east to west, mirrors the very flow of time and existence. Paradise, being a source of life and creation, naturally aligns with this fundamental direction. It's the place "from which it is moved," the origin point of everything.
But there's more to it than just sunrise. The east also represents the "right side" of the world, while the west is considered the "left." This isn’t just a directional thing; it’s about symbolism. The right side, in many traditions, is associated with strength, blessing, and auspiciousness. Philo even brings in a poet to illustrate this, noting how birds flying from the east are considered dexteras, or right-hand omens, while those from the west are sinistras, or left-hand ones. Are they headed "to the right to the day and to the sun, or whether they go to the left towards the dusky evening?"
And what about the name "Eden" itself? Philo points out that "Eden, when rightly understood, is an indication of all kinds of delights, and joys, and pleasures." It’s a place of ultimate goodness, where "all good things and all blessings derive their beginning from the place of the Lord." So, naturally, this source of all good things is located in the direction that symbolizes beginnings and blessings.
Finally, there's the idea that wisdom itself is "splendor and light." And where does light originate? From the east, of course! So Eden, as a place of ultimate wisdom and understanding, aligns perfectly with the direction of enlightenment.
So, the next time you picture the Garden of Eden, remember it's not just a beautiful garden. It's a symbol. It's a reminder of the origins of life, the blessings of the divine, and the pursuit of wisdom – all embodied in the rising sun, forever shining from the east. What does that direction signify for you?