מגן עדן למקדש
From Garden to Sanctuary
Creation, concentrated
A garden's scattered life, gathered into ordered ornament. A way of picturing the Temple as a small, ordered world.
An image of an idea, not a claim about any historical ornament.
Approached from the east
Classical interpretation: A traditional commentator's reading. Others may read the text differently.A literary parallel noted by commentators and scholars.
The Garden
Cherubim are placed at the east of the Garden to guard the way.
The House
The Sanctuary's entrance faces east; every visitor walks westward, inward.
Cherubim
Torah text: Stated in the Five Books of Moses.Both are in the Torah's text; the connection between them is interpretive.
The Garden
Cherubim guard the way to the tree of life.
The House
Cherubim spread their wings over the Ark and are woven into the curtains.
Tree and light
Classical interpretation: A traditional commentator's reading. Others may read the text differently.A parallel many readers draw; the Torah does not state it.
The Garden
The tree of life stands at the centre of the Garden.
The House
The Menorah is shaped like a flowering tree, with branches, cups like almond blossoms, knops and flowers.
To serve and to guard
Classical interpretation: A traditional commentator's reading. Others may read the text differently.A verbal parallel in the Hebrew, noted by scholars.
The Garden
Adam is placed in the Garden 'to dress it and to keep it'.
The House
The same pair of Hebrew roots, avodah and shemirah, describes the Levites' service and watch at the sanctuary.
The garden of God on the holy mountain
Tanach prophecy: Stated in the Prophets or the Writings.Ezekiel's language joins the two images; its subject is the king of Tyre.
The Garden
Ezekiel speaks of 'Eden the garden of God' and 'the holy mountain of God' in one breath.
The House
The Temple stands on the mountain of the Lord's house.
A river of life
Classical interpretation: A traditional commentator's reading. Others may read the text differently.A parallel widely noted; Ezekiel does not name Eden here.
The Garden
A river goes out of Eden to water the Garden.
The House
In Ezekiel's vision a river flows from the Temple, and trees for food and healing grow on its banks.