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In the East the gardens were portions of ground under culture, and often enclosed by walls, in which fruit and herbs were grown. Water was always necessary: in the garden of Eden there was a river by which it was watered; and hence a fruitful place was described as
well watered, 'as the garden of the Lord.' Gen. 13: 10. It is also used figuratively of great blessing: when Israel is restored, "their soul shall be as a watered garden," Jer. 31: 12; whereas under God's judgements they were like a garden that had no water. Isa. 1: 30.
The garden was also looked upon as a place of delights, and is often used figuratively in this sense in the Canticles; Cant. 4: 12-16; Cant. 5: 1; Cant. 6: 2, 11; Cant. 8: 13. Gardens were also secluded places
of secret sin. Isa. 65: 3 ; Isa. 66: 17.
The two most noted gardens in scripture were the gardens of EDEN and of GETHSEMANE, q.v. Once only we read of a GARDENER, John 20: 15, though, since the curse upon the ground, there must always have been some who laboured in gardens: cf. Gen. 3: 19; Cant. 1: 6; and in Eden, before the curse, Adam was placed in the garden 'to dress it and to keep it.' Gen. 2: 15.