Beale notes the cultic affinities drawn between the garden of Eden and the temple of Israel. The word pair usually translated as "cultivate" ('abad) and "keep" (shamar) occur together in the Old Testament elsewhere referring only either to Israelites "serving" God and "guarding" (keeping) God's Word, or to priests who "keep" the "service" (or "charge") of the tabernacle. The author concludes that Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 portray Adam as a royal gardener, but one who performs acts of worshipful obedience in doing so. Adam is seen as a priest in this task. The article indicates how this task is passed on to Abraham, Jacob, Noah, Israel, David, Solomon and to the witnesses of the Great Commission.