The Persian loan word pardes never appears anywhere in the Pentateuch. Only the Hebrew word gan or garden. In the whole Hebrew Bible pardes only appears at Nehemiah 2:8, Ecclesiaes 2:5 and Song of Songs 4:13. What is confusing you is that the GREEK word paradise (παράδεισος) is a Persian loan word, first introduced by Xenophon in reference to the parks of the Persian kings and nobles (Anabasis 1.2.7; 2.4.14; Cyropedia 1.3.14). By the time of the LXX (where it was used to translate gan--not pardes!!!--in Gen. 2:8), it was commonly used for a enclosed garden or Persian park.Secret Alias wrote: ↑Thu Dec 08, 2022 7:36 pmonly one possible/alleged Persian loan word, which is widely disputed.
If you're right, παράδεισος.
In Luke, 2 Corinthians, Revelation and Josephus Ant. 1.13 παράδεισος refers to an earthly or heavenly paradise, under the influence of the LXX of Gen. 2:8.
The word παράδεισος also appears in Diodorus Siculus, Library 14.80.2 ("He [Agesilaus] overran the countryside as far as Sardis and ravaged the orchards and the pleasure-park belonging to [the Persian ruler] Tissaphernes, which had been artistically laid out at great expense with plants and all other things that contribute to luxury and the enjoyment in peace of the good things of life"); Plutarch, Alcibiades 24 ["Tissaphernes, though otherwise the most ardent of the Persians in his hatred of the Hellenes, so completely surrendered to the flatteries of Alcibiades as to outdo him in reciprocal flatteries. Indeed, the most beautiful park he had, both for its refreshing waters and grateful lawns, with resorts and retreats decked out in regal and extravagant fashion, he named Alcibiades; everyone always called it by that name."]; Strabo, Geography 15.1.58 ["the ivy, the laurel, the myrtle, the box-tree, and other evergreens, none of which are found beyond the Euphrates, except a few in parks, which are only preserved with great care"]; and Josephus, War 4.467 (the charming gardens in the Jericho region).
So what does that show? (1) That the Greeks knew about Persian pleasure-parks from the time of Xenophon onwards; (2) that the Greek word paradise (παράδεισος) was borrowed from the Persian pardes; and (3) that for the Greek translator of Genesis 2:8, Eden's luxurious garden was reminiscent of Persia's famous pleasure-gardens and was best described by this Greek word. But the Hebrew original (including the Samaritan Pentateuch) uses the usual Hebrew word gan. There is NO PERSIAN LOAN WORD in the Hebrew original.
The use of παράδεισος does NOT point to Genesis or the Pentateuch as a Persian era composition. Or are you trying to say the LXX translation was made in the Persian Era?! Because παράδεισος only appears in the LXX, not in the Hebrew.