Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 3:24/אבן עזרא על בראשית ג׳:כ״ד
אמקדם. פי' ממזרח, ודע כי כל מה שמצאנו כתוב הוא אמת וכן היה ואין בו ספק, ויש לו סוד, כי מאור השכל, יצא החפץ ומהשני העולה למעלה, כי תנועת החפץ לפנים הוא גם עלה תאנה לאות ונקרא השלישי בשם הבחינה, כי בתחלה יש כח בלי מפעל, והמבין זה הסוד יבין איך יפרד הנהר, וזה סוד גן עדן, וכתנות העור גם יורה זה הסוד שיש יכולת באדם שיהיה לעולם, והמשכיל יבין כי זה כל האדם:
1AT THE EAST. Mi-kedem means at the east.74 Note, the story of the garden of Eden is to be interpreted literally. There is no doubt that it happened exactly as described in Scripture. Nevertheless, it also has a secret meaning.75, desire) frequently acts contrary to the intellect, due to the paradox of various faculties within man struggling for control. Volition (desire) is animated by the intellectual faculty but it is opposed by lust which originates from the appetitive and sensitive dimensions (Gen. 3:24).” Man’s goal in life is thus to seek “knowledge of God” and to subdue “all interfering passions” (p. 14). It alludes to the following: Intellect (the Garden of Eden)76 gave birth to desire (the tree of knowledge). Desire gave birth to man’s actions. It is via his actions that man can elevate himself, for the force that propels his desire is in front of him.77 The fig leaves prove this.78 Man’s actions are also called the testing ground, for by them man is tried. Intellect and desire are only potential.79 The one who understands the secrets of the tree of knowledge will understand the secret of the four rivers that divided into four parts (Gen. 2:10).80 This is the secret of the Garden of Eden and the garments of skin.81 There is also an allusion in all of this to man’s potential immortality (the tree of life). The intelligent will understand that this is the ultimate purpose of man’s life on earth.82