While ’ādām is placed in the garden to till/work and ‘keep’ (šāmar) it (2:15), the cherubim are placed at the east of the garden to ‘guard’ (šāmar) the way to the tree of life (3:24)…. when ’ādām is expelled from the garden, all that is left to do is to ‘till’ or ‘work’ the ground (3:23). The task of keeping or guarding the garden has been passed on to others.31
