Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 10
VERSE 10.
A River] Or Rivers, as ſome underſtand it after the uſe of the Hebrew phraſe, which oftentimes puts the Singular for the Plurall Number, as Chap. 1. verſe 12. By the Tree bearing ſeed, are underſtood Trees: yea all Trees yielding ſeed; By this River ſome underſtand Euphrates, others both it and Tigris, and ſome Tigrs alone.
Went out of Eden] It did not ariſe in Eden, but went either through or by Eden, and ſo watered that Garden of Paradiſe which was in Eden a Countrey of Meſopotamia, or, as ſome will have, a larger Countrey, compaſſing both Meſopotamia and divers countreyes adjoyning thereunto.
To water the Garden] By running through it, as moſt will have it: ſome conceive, it compaſſed the Garden round, imagining that Garden to be an Iſland lying in the boſome of Tigris or Hiddekel, about ten miles in circuit, inhabited to this day by Chriſtians, called Gozoria, diſtant about two miles from Nineve: but theſe are onelyonly conjectures.
And from thence] Not immediately after it had watered the Garden, but a great many miles below; for ſome refer (from thence) not to the Garden, but the countrey of Eden through which the River flowes.
And from thence it became into four heads] Properly Heads are Fountains, from which Rivers ſpring; but a River parting into four branches, as this is deſcribed to do, the beginning of thoſe ſeverall channels, into which it divides, may not unfitly be termed Heads; Eſpecially ſeeing in the Hebrew tongue the VVord here uſed ſignifieth indifferently either a Head or a Beginning.
The deſcription or the Situation of this Garden upon ſo fair a River, is added to commend unto us both the pleaſure, and fruitfulneſſe of this Garden of Delights, planted with all variety of fruits at preſent, and watered with ſuch a ſtream as might continue the fruitfulneſſe of that ſoil for the future. Whence,
1. Obſerve, Gods bleſſings are every way compleat and perfect, full and laſting.
Obſerv. 1 IN their kind and nature, and with reſpect had to the uſe and end for which they were appointed to ſerve; He greatly enricheth the Earth with his River which is full of waters, Pſal. 65.9. VVhichWhich makes glad the Cittie of God, Pſal. 46.4. It may well be ſo in reſpect of the cauſe, whence theſe bleſſings flow, which is Gods Boundleſſe Love and All-ſufficiency; And muſt be ſo in reſpect of the end at which they aim, which is the manifeſting both the one and the other, that mens hearts might be brought to rejoyce and depend upon Him alone.
Let our ſervices in ſome proportion, be anſwerable to Gods Bleſſings, wanting in their parts nothing of what is required, howſoever they come ſhort in their degrees; and flowing from, and ſupplied and continued by an inward ſpring of Grace, which may hold us on in a conſtant courſe, to keep us alwaies freſh and flouriſhing, as a good man is deſcribed unto us, Pſalme 1.3.
It is recounted amongſt the ſpeciall commendations of this Garden of pleaſures, that it was well watered by a fair River, which is for that purpoſe deſcribed unto us here at full. VVhence.
2. Obſerv. Springs and Rivers of waters are not amongſt the leaſt of Gods Bleſſings.
Obſerv. 2 ANd are therefore recounted amongſt them, Pſal. 104. It was the commendation of the plain of Jordan, that is was watered like the Garden of God, Gen. 13.10. VVaters were the ſtrength of Egypt and Her Glory, Nahum. 3. And the honour of Pharaoh, Ezek. 29.3. as indeed they are the Delight, Strength and Profit of any Countrey where they are. Therefore God Promiſes ſprings and waters, as eſpeciall bleſſings, Iſa. 35.6, 7. and amongſt his Curſes threatens, as a ſpeciall judgment, the ſmiting and drying up of the waters, Iſa. 11.15. Pſal. 107.33.
Let us then take notice of, and acknowledge ſuch Commodities amongſt Gods ſpeciall bleſſings, which no man can purchaſe at any rate, nor want without great inconvenience; howſoever for the moſt part they are lightly eſteemed, becauſe they are common.