The garden's beauty and richness spread to nearby areas through its rivers. The four rivers might suggest the garden's bounty reached all parts of the world.
The Israelites later used gold and onyx to decorate the tabernacle, the temple (Exodus 25:3–9; 1 Chronicles 29:2), and the priests' clothing (Exodus 28:9–14, 20).
The people used bdellium (a fragrant resin) in sacred incense (Exodus 30:34).