The Torah tells us in Genesis 2:15 that God placed man in Paradise "to till it and keep it." But...why?
The Garden, Gan Eden, was, well, perfect. It was planted by God Himself. What did it need tilling for? Everything was already flourishing! And keep it? From whom? Was there some rogue band of squirrels planning a heist of the pomegranate trees? It just doesn't seem to add up, does it?
This apparent contradiction is something that the ancient sages wrestled with. And one fascinating explanation comes from the Midrash of Philo. Now, Philo of Alexandria, who lived in the first century, was a Jewish philosopher who sought to harmonize Jewish scripture with Greek philosophy. His writings offer a unique perspective on these well-known stories.
So, what's Philo's take? He suggests that the Garden didn't actually need tending in the literal sense. It wasn't about weeding or pruning. Rather, the instruction to "till and keep" was a metaphor. It was about something deeper, something about Adam's purpose.
Perhaps, Philo suggests, God was giving Adam a task to engage his mind and spirit. To cultivate his own inner garden, so to speak. And to guard against the temptations and negative influences that might threaten his spiritual well-being. The "keeping" wasn't about protecting the physical space, but about protecting his own soul.
Think about it. We are all, in a way, placed in our own "gardens." We have talents, opportunities, and relationships that need tending. We have to cultivate our minds, nurture our spirits, and protect ourselves from negative influences. Maybe the story of Adam in the Garden of Eden isn't just a historical account, but a timeless lesson about the human condition. A lesson about the responsibility we each have to cultivate our own inner paradise. What do you think?