PISHON

(Piʹshon) [meaning uncertain; apparently from root meaning “to make wide, become full”].

One of the four rivers branching out from the “river issuing out of Eden” and thereafter encircling the entire land of Havilah, a land stated to be the source of gold, bdellium gum and onyx stone. (Gen. 2:10-12) The identification of the Pishon River is conjectural, suggestions ranging from certain rivers in Armenia all the way to the Ganges River of India.

In the articles on EDEN and CUSH (No. 2) we have considered the suggestion that the global Flood probably obliterated the evidence for positive identification of the Pishon and Gihon Rivers today. This, of course, does not eliminate the possibility that these rivers were still in existence and known in Moses’ day when the book of Genesis was recorded. His reference to the “land of Havilah” is not likely to be understood as meaning that a region was so named prior to the Flood, even as is the case with his reference to the “land of Cush.” (Gen. 2:13) Rather, Moses’ references to these lands are evidently to places so named in post-Flood times and serve as geographical points commonly known in his day. In addition to whatever changes the Flood wrought, the ability of earthquakes to change the course of rivers or to wipe out sections thereof must also be given consideration. Such could have occurred in post-Flood times; Armenia, the probable location of Eden, is in an earthquake belt.—See HAVILAH No. 1.