And the days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years.
28. the days of Isaac ] Isaac is here credited with a longer life by 5 years than Abraham. Cf. Gen 25:7. Comparing this verse with Gen 25:20, Gen 26:34, Jacob, according to P, was 120 years old at his father’s death; he had left his father at the age of 40; and had resided in Canaan for nearly 60 years. There is no mention of his having visited Isaac again.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Gen 35:28-29
And the days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years.
And Isaac gave up the ghost
The character of Isaac
The lives of Abraham and Jacob are as attractive as the life of Isaac is apparently unattractive. Isaacs character had few salient features. It had no great faults, no striking virtues; it is the quietest, smoothest, most silent character in the Old Testament. It is owing to this that there are so few remarkable events in the life of Isaac, for the remarkableness of events is created by the character that meets them. It seems to be a law that all national, social, and personal life should advance by alternate contractions and expansions. There are few instances where a great father has had a son who equalled him in greatness. The old power more often reappears in Jacob than in Isaac. The spirit of Abrahams energy passed over his son to his sons son. The circumstances that moulded the character of Isaac were these.
1. He was an only son.
2. His parents were both very old. At atmosphere of antique quiet hung about his life.
3. These two old hearts lived for him alone.
I. Take the EXCELLENCES of his character first. His submissive self-surrender on Mount Gerizim, which shadowed forth the perfect sacrifice of Christ.
2. His tender constancy, seen in his mourning for his mother, and in the fact that he alone of the patriarchs represented to the Jewish nation the ideal of true marriage.
3. His piety. It was as natural to him as to a woman to trust and love: not strongly, hut constantly, sincerely. His trust became the habit of his soul. His days were knit each to each by natural piety.
II. Look next at the FAULTS of Isaacs character.
1. He was slow, indifferent, inactive. We find this exemplified in the story of the wells (verse 26:18-22).
2. The same weakness, ending in selfishness, appears in the history of Isaacs lie to Abimelech.
3. He showed his weakness in the division between Jacob and Esau. He took no pains to harmonize them. The curse of favouritism prevailed in his tent.
4. He dropped into a querulous old age, and became a lover of savoury meat. But our last glimpse of him is happy. He saw the sons of Jacob at Hebron, and felt that Gods promise was fulfilled. (S. A. Brooke, M. A.)
The death and burial of Isaac
I. IT WAS THE OCCASION OF FAMILY REUNION.
II. IT WAS A TIME FOR REVIVAL OF MEMORIES OF THE PAST,
III. IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER AND A HIGHER LIFE. (T. H. Leale.)
The death of Isaac
I. THAT HIS DEATH WAS PEACEFUL.
1. Because his spirit was given up to the rightful owner.
2. Because the souls earthly activities had come to an end.
3. Because his souls temporal purposes had been gained.
II. THAT HIS LIFE WAS WELL SPENT.
1. His souls interests had not been neglected.
2. Society had been benefited.
3. God had been served.
III. HE WAS BELOVED AND HONOURED BY HIS FAMILY. This is intimated to us–
1. By his being buried with his people.
2. By his sons attending his funeral. (Homilist.)
Lessons
1. God brings at last His Jacob and Church to their desired place in their pilgrimage.
2. God makes good His word in making Jacob successor to Abraham and Isaac in their sojourning (Gen 35:27).
3. The blessing of long life God grants to His servants, when and where it may be beneficial to His Church (Gen 35:28).
4. Expiration and dissolution are the appointed conditions of saints in order unto glory.
5. Saints in dissolution go out of the world unto their own people.
6. Old age or fulness of days is given here sometimes to Gods saints, i.e., days full of work, as well as many.
7. Nature and grace agree to evince and perform the duty of burial.
8. It is piety to parents deceased so to order their burial and interment that it may be comely and honourable.
9. The death as well as the life of saints God recordeth for His Churchs instruction, and to point out distinct periods (Gen 35:29). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Esau and Jacob at Isaacs deathbed
The tenderness of these two brothers towards one another and towards their father was probably quickened by remorse when they met at his deathbed. They could not, perhaps, think that they had hastened his end by causing him anxieties which age has not strength to throw off; but they could not miss the reflection that the life now closed and finally sealed up might have been a much brighter life had they acted the part of dutiful, loving sons. Scarcely can one of our number pass from among us without leaving in our minds some self-reproach that we were not more kindly towards him, and that now he was beyond our kindness; that our opportunity for being brotherly towards him is for ever gone. And when we have very manifestly erred in this respect: perhaps there are among all the stings of a guilty conscience few more bitterly piercing than this. Many a son who has stood unmoved by the tears of a living mother–his mother by whom he lives, who has cherished him as her own soul, who has forgiven and forgiven and forgiven him, who has toiled and prayed, and watched for him–though he has hardened himself against her looks of imploring love and turned carelessly from her entreaties and burst through all the fond cords and snares by which she has sought to keep him, has yet broken down before the calm, unsolicitous, resting face of the dead. Hitherto he has not listened to her pleadings, and now she pleads no more. Hitherto she has heard no word of pure love from him, and now she hears no more. Hitherto he has done nothing for her of all that a son may do, and now there is nothing he can do. All the goodness of her life gathers up and stands out at once, and the time for gratitude is past. He sees suddenly, as by the withdrawal of a veil, all that that worn body has passed through for him, and all the goodness these features have expressed, and now they can never light up with joyful acceptance of his love and duty. Such grief as this finds its one alleviation in the knowledge that we may follow those who have gone before us; that we may yet make reparation. (M. Dods, D. D.)
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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. He lived, forty years after he had made his will, and blessed his two sons. Jacob was now one hundred and twenty years of age, being born when his father was sixty; and Joseph was now twenty nine years of age, so that Isaac lived twelve years after the selling of Joseph into Egypt; he was five years older than his father Abraham was when he died.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
28. And the days of Isaac. The death of Isaac is not related in its proper order, as will soon appear from the connection of the history: but, as we have elsewhere seen, the figure hysteron proteron was familiar to Moses. (128) When it is said, that he died old, and full of days, the meaning is, that, having fulfilled the course of his life, he departed by a mature death; this, therefore, is ascribed to the blessing of God. Nevertheless, I refer these words not merely to the duration of his life, but also to the state of his feelings; implying that Isaac, being satisfied with life, willingly and placidly departed out of the world. For we may see certain decrepit old men, who are not less desirous of life then they were in the flower of their age; and with one foot in the grave, they still have a horror of death. Therefore, though long life is reckoned among the blessings of God; yet it is not enough for men to be able to count up a great number of years; unless they feel that they have lived long, and, being satisfied with the favor of God and with their own age, prepare themselves for their departure. Now, in order that old men may leave their minds formed to this kind of moderation, it behaves them to have a good conscience, to the end, that they may not flee from the presence of God; for an evil conscience pursues and agitates the wicked with terror. Moses adds, that Isaac was buried by his two sons. For since, at that time, the resurrection was not clearly revealed, and its first fruits had not yet appeared, it behaved the holy fathers to be so much the more diligently trained in significant ceremonies, in order that they might correct the impression produced by the semblance of destruction which is presented in death. By the fact that Esau is put first, we are taught again, that the fruit of the paternal benediction was not received by Jacob in this life; for he who was the first-born by right, is still subjected to the other, after his father’s death.
(128) The death of Isaac is mentioned here, out of place, to prevent the subsequent interruption of the history. The events of the thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth chapters preceded it; for Isaac lived about fifteen years after the removal of Joseph into Egypt. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(28) The days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.As Isaac was sixty when his sons were born, Jacob was one hundred and twenty years of age at his fathers death, and one hundred and thirty when he appeared before Pharaoh (Gen. 47:9). Now, as Joseph was seventeen when sold into Egypt (Gen. 37:2), and thirty when raised to power (Gen. 41:46), and as the seven years of plenty and two of the years of famine had passed before Jacob went down into Egypt, it follows that the cruel deed, whereby he was robbed of his favourite child, was committed about twelve years before the death of Isaac.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
28. Hundred and fourscore years He lived five years more than his father Abraham . Gen 25:7.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years, and Isaac yielded up his breath and died, and was gathered to his people old and full of days. And Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.
Isaac lives on for many years with Esau and Jacob as his support. He was not much more than one hundred when Jacob left for Paddan-aram and he had thus many years of life ahead of him. But he was blind and old before his days and there were no special covenants to record. However, as with all the ages of the patriarchs, the number is a round number and therefore probably contains a meaning of its own. The aim is to show a long and successful life. How close he came to those exact years neither he nor we would know. It is extremely doubtful that records of age were kept over so many years.
Meanwhile, after the return of Jacob their wealth of possessions and cattle and herds was so great that Esau eventually removes permanently, with all he possesses, to his well established base in Mount Seir (Gen 36:6). His visits to his family home will now be far fewer and less protracted. Previously he has shared his time between assisting his father in times of necessity, lambing, sheepshearing, harvest and so on, and leading his band of warriors. Now that can be left to Jacob. But he remained in touch with his family and when his father died he came to join Jacob, and they buried him together.
These words may well have been added as a postscript to the previous covenant record.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
From the age of Isaac at his death, it appears that he did not die at that time, for he must, by his age, have lived after Joseph’s being sold into Egypt. But perhaps it is inserted here, by way of finishing that Patriarch’s history.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 35:28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.
Ver. 29. And Isaac gave up the ghost. ] Twelve years after Joseph was sold, and forty years after he first became blind. Three special friends Jacob buries, in this chapter. Crosses come thick: be patient.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 35:28-29
28Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. 29Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, an old man of ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Gen 35:29 “Isaac breathed his last and died” Isaac must have lived in a very decrepit condition for a long time (cf. Gen 27:1). Jacob was gone over twenty years and his father had expected to die shortly after he left. This shows that although the Patriarch had the blessings of God, he still experienced physical discomfort and diseases for a long period of his life.
“his sons Esau and Jacob buried him” As Ishmael and Isaac had come back together to bury Abraham so these two sons, Esau and Jacob, were together for the burial of their father. This was apparently a very important cultural event.
“gathered to his people” The VERB (BDB 62, KB 74, Niphal IMPERFECT) means “to gather” or “to remove.” It is an idiom for being united after death with one’s family (i.e., Gen 25:8; Gen 25:17; Gen 35:29; Gen 49:29; Gen 49:33; Num 20:24; Num 20:26; Num 27:13; Num 31:2; Deu 32:50). The OT’s revelations about the afterlife are brief and ambiguous (except for rare glimpses in Job and Psalms of a resurrection).
It could denote
1. an idiom for a peaceful death
2. an idiom for being buried in a family tomb
3. an idiom for being reunited with dead loved ones (i.e., an affirmation of personal existence after death). See Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 127-129.
4. an idiom for waiting with dead loved ones until God raises the dead (cf. Job 14:14-15; Job 19:25-27; Psa 16:10; Psa 49:15; Psa 86:13; Ezekiel 37; Dan 12:2-3; Hos 13:14). The fullest NT text would be 1 Corinthians 15.
Gen 35:29 “an old man of ripe age” This is an idiom for a long life. Death was viewed as the natural end of all human life. Long life was viewed as a blessing. Death was a friend to the aged believer (and still is)!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Why did Jacob only travel as far as Shechem and not go all the way to Bethel?
2. Who are the Hivites?
3. Was adultery always an odious crime or did that begin with the Mosaic legislation?
4. Why were Reuben, Simeon, and Levi rejected from being the patriarchal leader of the family?
5. What foreign gods is Jacob referring to in Gen 35:2?
6. What do the ear-rings symbolize in Gen 35:4?
7. Why were trees considered sacred sites to these nomadic desert dwellers?
8. Why did Jacob raise a pillar at special places and times in his life? Why is this later condemned?
9. Do we have a soul or are we a soul? Why?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Gen 25:7, Gen 47:28, Gen 50:26
Reciprocal: Gen 25:8 – good Gen 47:9 – have not Exo 6:16 – an hundred Job 42:16 – an
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 35:28-29. The days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years He lived the longest of all the patriarchs, even five years longer than Abraham. He was a mild and quiet man, and these qualities probably contributed no little to his health and long life. Isaac lived about forty years after he made his will. We shall not die an hour the sooner, but abundantly the better, for our timely setting our heart and house in order. Isaac gave up the ghost and died Although it appears by computation that he did not die till many years after Joseph was sold into Egypt, and, indeed, not till about the time he was preferred there; yet his death is here recorded that his story might be finished, and the subsequent narrative proceed without interruption. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him Solemnized his funeral in an amicable manner, being now perfectly united in brotherly affection. This is mentioned to show how wonderfully God had changed Esaus mind, since he vowed his brothers murder, upon his fathers death, Gen 27:41. God has many ways of preventing ill men from doing the mischief they intended; he can either tie their hands, or change their hearts.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
With the record of Jacob entering into his father’s inheritance the history of Isaac’s life concludes. He was buried in the cave of Machpelah near Hebron (Gen 49:29-31). Isaac lived for 12 years after Jacob’s relocation to Hebron, however. He probably shared Jacob’s grief over the apparent death of Joseph, but died shortly before Joseph’s promotion in Egypt. [Note: See Keil and Delitzsch, 1:320, for a chronology of these events.]
"The end of the Jacob narratives is marked by the death of his father, Isaac. The purpose of this notice is not simply to record Isaac’s death but rather to show the complete fulfillment of God’s promise to Jacob (Gen 28:21). According to Jacob’s vow, he had asked that God watch over him during his sojourn and return him safely to the house of his father. Thus the conclusion of the narrative marks the final fulfillment of these words as Jacob returned to the house of his father, Isaac, before he died." [Note: Sailhamer, "Genesis," p. 220.]
It is very important that God’s people follow through and keep the commitments they have made concerning participation in His program. When they commit themselves to Him in purity and worship, He commits Himself to blessing them.