One Creation Story or Two? – Ancient Cosmology E4
BibleProject
Interpreting the River of Eden and relation to Mana and later imagery
The river flowing out of Eden carries symbolic significance in relation to the creation of humanity and serves as a source of life. It is suggested that the river could have originated from a spring that played a crucial role in the creation of humans. The transformation of the stream into a river symbolizes the emergence of humanity. As the river leaves Eden, it divides into four rivers or heads, each with its own name and unique characteristics. The mention of the land of Havila and its abundance of gold, aromatic resin, and onyx stone adds depth to the narrative. The rare substances, such as bedelium, are linked to the manna in the Hebrew Bible, connecting them to the concept of Edenic bread. The reference to Havela being on the way to Egypt hints at a larger geographical context within the biblical narrative.
