Passover’s history began in the Garden of Eden after the first humans took and ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When their eyes opened to see their nakedness, they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves, but God clothed them with garments of skin. An animal had to die to hide the nakedness of their shame. Separated from God and His blessing, humanity’s exile is death. Death is the enemy of life and everything God. And God put enmity between the serpent’s seed and the woman’s Seed, yet the Seed will prevail over the enemy to cover, passing over believers.

Laden with Passover imagery, Cain and Abel brought offerings to Eden’s east entrance to continue in fellowship with God. YHWH only accepted Abel’s blood sacrifice of the firstborn of his flock with its milk. After Cain killed Abel, YHWH reminded him, “a sin offering lies at the entrance,” through which He destroys the power of sin and restores His presence (Gen. 4:3-7). Through the blood sacrifice lying at the door to the sanctuary, the enemies of life are overcome, and we can enter into the light of His Presence.

Melchizedek, King of Salem and priest of God Most High, brought out lechem (לֶחֶם, flesh and grain) and yayin (יָיִן, wine) for Abram and blessed him. Also, he blessed God Most High, who had delivered Abram’s enemies into his hand (Gen. 14:18-22). After this, YHWH appeared to Abram in a vision promising a son. Confirming His oath, He asked Abram to prepare five animals for sacrifice, and as Abram waited, a dark, deep sleep came upon him. And God spoke to Abram about what would happen to his descendants and how He would deliver them 400 years later. In the fourth generation after leaving the Promised Land, they would return to Canaan (Gen. 15:7-16).

In the process of time, God instructed Abram to take his only son, Isaac, and go to a place in the mountains of Moriah to sacrifice him, indicating that a human was to ultimately pay the price for humanity’s sins. YHWH provided a substitute ram, so Abram’s son of promise was delivered from death to remain in the land of the living. Abram called the place YHWH-jireh, “the covenant God who sees and provides.”

Israel’s exodus out of exile began with the Passover, protecting them from the tenth plague that claimed the life of all the firstborn of man and beast found outside houses marked with blood on the door. On the night of Abib 14, those inside the houses ate roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs while the midnight destroyer passed through the land. As the day dawned, YHWH’s victory provided Israel with Egyptian spoils and freedom from oppression and death. Lest they die, Egypt drove out Israel. Israel gathered at Rameses at the exact time and day 430 years from when YHWH had spoken to Abram in a deep sleep of darkness and precisely 400 years from Isaac’s weaning when Ishmael mocked him.

Yeshua ate His last Passover with His disciples on Abib 14, and at about midnight, He was arrested and charged with blaspheming, then beaten and scourged. The Jews took Him outside the city to Golgotha (where Israel’s census was conducted) and crucified Him between two thieves. From noon until 3:00 PM, darkness covered the land. At the time of the evening sacrifice, 3:00 PM, Jesus breathed His last and hung on the cross until almost sunset. It was the same date (afternoon of Abib 14) and time of YHWH’s covenant with Abram and Israel’s gathering at Rameses to flee from bondage.

Takeaway:
Passover’s historicity begins in Eden and continues to its realization in Yeshua’s crucifixion. Based on the covenant promises to Abram when he came into the land, a sacrifice provided justice at a specific place, time, and day of the week. The Genesis 14 Melchizedek Passover event and Genesis 15’s cutting, Israel’s Passover and gathering for the exodus, and Yeshua’s crucifixion and death happened on a Wednesday (Day 4) Passover, Abib 14. All of these occurrences celebrated the overcoming of the enemy by YHWH-jireh.

Fun Factors:
The lechem (לֶחֶם, flesh and grain) and yayin (יָיִן, wine) of Genesis 14:18 added (78 + 70) equal 148, the exact 148 total for Passover (pesach, פֶסַח).

Cain and Abel offered sacrifices at Eden’s door at a specific time, “And it came to pass, at the end of days” (Gen. 4:3), equaling 361, or 192, referencing the lunar 19-year time cycle.

Passover yearly falls on one of only four weekdays, Day 2 (Monday), Day 4 (Wednesday), Day 6 (Friday), or Day 7 (Sabbath). And 2 + 4 + 6 + 7 = 19. The number 2467 is the 365^th prime, the number of years of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, who uniquely did not die, but walked with God. Extrapolating, the way for humanity to not die is through Yeshua’s sacrifice.