Evidence Of The Origins of Eden
Posted: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
by Dr. Carla Goddard
Genesis 2:10-14 says a stream flowed in Eden, but beyond were four rivers. The Pishon, the Gihon, the Hiddekel and the Euphrates all existed. The Euphrates and the Hiddekel, which is now called the Tigris, still flow today. There is theories that the Pishon was the Wadi al Batin that is now dry and the Gihon was perhaps the Karun River. These rivers came together at the head of the Persion Gulf.
Taking each River separately in order to ascertain the location, the Pishon was said to be in Havilah. Many scholars believe that this would have been in what is now known as Saudi Arabia and Yemen. From archaeological findings, there is evidence that this area was not always the worlds largest sand desert. Approximately 30,000 BCE there is evidence of lakes in the area and of river beds, which would have meant a lush green landscape. In satellite images they have also shown evidence of a river system in this area drained all of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait at one time. Further, Genesis describes the area being in abundance of pure gold. In fact geologist have estimated that the King Solomon's mine that was supposed to be the largest and one of the richest gold mines of all the worlds is believed that this was the mine of Mahd adh Dhahab which is located in the "land of Havilah". This same area has mines of onyx, marble, quartz, lapis lazuli, and beryl explaining the precious stone. Frankincense is one of the first spices that can be traced in the Arabian incense route.
Scholars agree that by 1100 BCE this was very evident which would also account for the perfume. In Genesis 10:7 and other locations describe the locality and people within a Mesopotamian-Arabian framework. Supporting this evidence is geological evidence that clearly show a fossil river that once flowed through the area.
There are other thoughts of this same area being in Egypt, the Mediterranean, and India; however, no other place does all three of the listed attributes of the Pishon river exist as it does in Saudi Arabia. This is debated highly between the many religious facets.
The Gihon is identified as being in the land of Cush. The different translations of the Bible make this river rather confusing to even contemplate its location. Some scholars have suggested that Cush is translated to Ethiopia this line of thinking is difficult to agree with as this would cause the river to dump into the Red Sea rather than converging with the other three rivers. Looking back to the lands of Mesopotamia, the word in the original translation used is "compasseth", this means to surround. With this thought, the river Karun does just that. For 510 miles this river surrounded all of the areas.
The other two rivers are well known and documented and truly are to debated the way the first two are. There is also the reporting in the Bible that Eden lay upon miles of sediment. This is a vital clue in the mystery. The wording in the Genesis says that Eden's river came into four heads. Knowing that the climate and topography of the lands over the centuries (long before written historical accounts were made), this also all lead to the Garden of Eden being located within the head of Gulf currently located under the waters.Tying in many of the different religious thoughts all lead to the early spiritual roots being in the Mesopotamia area.
Even Sumerian myth's have always claimed that their ancestors actually came 'out of the sea'. Perhaps they literally did.There is no geographical nor archelogical evidence that supports any of the other theories of the Garden of Eden being located any where from Missouri to Egypt.
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