Horticulture

The art of garden cultivation, first practised in the Garden of Eden.

Horticulture in the Garden of Eden

The man and woman tended the garden

Genesis 2:15–23

The fall brought about a change in human priorities from horticulture to agriculture

Genesis 3:17–19 See also Genesis 4:2

And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground — because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Egyptian agriculture is likened to horticulture

Deuteronomy 11:10–11

For the land that you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated on foot, like a vegetable garden. But the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks in the rain from heaven.

Horticulture is totally dependent on good irrigation

Isaiah 58:11 See also Genesis 2:4–14, Genesis 13:10; Numbers 24:5–7; Job 8:16; Song of Solomon 4:12, Song of Solomon 4:15; Isaiah 51:3; Jeremiah 31:12

The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Those who practised horticulture

Kings

Ecclesiastes 2:5–6 See also 1 Kings 21:2; 2 Kings 21:18, 2 Kings 21:26, 2 Kings 25:4 parallels Jeremiah 39:4, Jeremiah 52:7; Nehemiah 3:15; Esther 1:5–6, Esther 7:7–8; Song of Solomon 8:13

I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

Common people

Jeremiah 29:28 See also Jeremiah 29:1–7; John 19:41

For he has sent to us in Babylon, claiming: Since the exile will be lengthy, build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat their produce.’”

Gardeners

John 20:15 See also Isaiah 5:7; John 15:1

“Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”

Kinds of horticulture

Vegetable gardens

1 Kings 21:2

So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place — or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”

Fruit gardens

Amos 9:14 See also Genesis 2:16–17, Genesis 3:1–3

I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.

Herb gardens

Luke 11:42 See also Song of Solomon 6:2; Matthew 13:31–32 parallels Mark 4:31–32, Luke 13:19

Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

Horticultural diseases and pestilence

Amos 4:9

“I struck you with blight and mildew in your growing gardens and vineyards; the locust devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.