Jeremiah 3:1 Jewish Thought: Akeidat Yitzchak

When all the trees are described as "pleasant to look at and good to eat," the two physically oriented life forces are referred to. The chomer and nefesh, raw material and animalistic life-force, are sustained by the intake of the fruit from all these trees. The four rivers emanating from the garden represent four forces at the command of man. 1) the Pishon, the urge to understand the why, wherefore, where, and when of rainfall and similar phenomena. All of these natural phenomena are constant testimony to the glory of their Creator; 2) Gichon, symbolizes the ability to understand the earth, i.e. farming and food production; 3) Chidekel, represents the ability to reason clearly, logically, and thereby arrive at the underlying reasons for things. It is an analytical ability. Prophecy uses this ability to divine higher truths; 4) Perat, the Euphratus, is the force that enables theological reasoning, philosophy. Many people drink from the waters of this river, some become enlightened by it, others intoxicated by it, are led astray spiritually.