And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which [is] Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
27. Isaac ] The mention of Isaac, after so long an interval, is surprising. But the P narrative carefully records the death and age of each patriarch. According to J, Isaac was living at Beer-sheba, when Jacob left his home (Gen 28:10). According to P, Isaac died 80 years later at Mamre in close proximity to the burial-place of his father. Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah (Gen 25:20); 60 years old at the birth of Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:26); at least 100 years old when Jacob went to Haran (Gen 27:46, cf. Gen 26:34), and, therefore, over 120 when Jacob returned from Haran.
Mamre ] Cf. Gen 13:18, Gen 23:19.
Kiriath-arba ] Cf. Gen 23:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 27. The city of Arbah, (which is Hebron)] See Ge 23:2. It has been conjectured that Jacob must have paid a visit to his father before this time, as previously to this he had been some years in Canaan; but now, as he was approaching to his end, Jacob is supposed to have gone to live with and comfort him in his declining days.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Jacob came; either with his wives, and children, and estate, to dwell with Isaac; or rather in person, to visit his sick and dying father; for otherwise Jacob having been ten years near his father, no doubt he had oft visited him, and carried his wives and children thither, though Scripture be silent in this particular: but they could not live together because of the greatness of their estates, as it happened with others. See Gen 13:6; 36:7.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Jacob came unto Isaac his father,…. No mention being made of his mother, it is very probable she was dead; and Isaac being alone, and very old, and the time of his death drawing nigh, he might send for Jacob to come with his family, and be with him; for it can hardly be thought that this was the first time of Jacob’s visiting his father since he came into the land, of Canaan, which must be about ten years; but as yet he had not come with his family to him, and in order to abide with him:
unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which [is] Hebron; Mamre was a plain, so called from the name of a man, a friend and confederate of Abraham, Ge 13:18; where, or near to which, stood a city, called Kirjath Arbah, or the city of the four, Arbah and his three sons; so that it might be called Tetrapolls, and was later called Hebron:
where Abraham and Isaac sojourned; lived good part of their days, see
Ge 13:18; it was about twenty miles from Bethlehem, and the tower of Eder k, where Jacob was last.
k Bunting’s Travels, p. 72.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Jacob’s arrival in “ Mamre Kirjath-Arbah, ” i.e., in the terebinth-grove of Mamre (Gen 13:18) by Kirjath-Arbah or Hebron (vid., Gen 23:2), constituted his entrance into his father’s house, to remain there as Isaac’s heir. He had probably visited his father during the ten years that had elapsed since his return from Mesopotamia, though no allusion is made to this, since such visits would have no importance, either in themselves or their consequences, in connection with the sacred history. This was not the case, however, with his return to enter upon the family inheritance. With this, therefore, the history of Isaac’s life is brought to a close. Isaac died at the age of 180, and was buried by his two sons in the cave of Machpelah (Gen 49:31), Abraham’s family grave, Esau having come from Seir to Hebron to attend the funeral of his father. But Isaac’s death did not actually take place for 12 years after Jacob’s return to Hebron. For as Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold by his brethren (Gen 37:2), and Jacob was then living at Hebron (Gen 37:14), it cannot have been more than 31 years after his flight from Esau when Jacob returned home (cf. Gen 34:1). Now since, according to our calculation at Gen 27:1, he was 77 years old when he fled, he must have been 108 when he returned home; and Isaac would only have reached his 168th year, as he was 60 years old when Jacob was born (Gen 25:26). Consequently Isaac lived to witness the grief of Jacob at the loss of Joseph, and died but a short time before his promotion in Egypt, which occurred 13 years after he was sold (Gen 41:46), and only 10 years before Jacob’s removal with his family to Egypt, as Jacob was 130 years old when he was presented to Pharaoh (Gen 47:9). But the historical significance of his life was at an end, when Jacob returned home with his twelve sons.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 27-29:
Jacob came to Isaac’s’ tents in Mamre, near the city of Arba. This city figures prominently in Bible events. It was also known as Hebron. (See Ge 13:18; 23:2, 19; Jos 14:15; 15:13). Here Isaac died, being 180 years old. Jacob was at this time 120 years old. When he stood before Pharaoh, he was 130 years old, and Joseph had been governor of Egypt for ten years. Jacob was 120 years old when Joseph became governor at age 30, which means he was 107 years old when Joseph was sold into Egypt. This means that Isaac was 167 years old when Joseph was sold, implying that he must have sympathized with Jacob for 13 years over Joseph’s disappearance.
When Isaac died, Esau came from Mount Seir to honor his deceased father. At the funeral, Jacob accorded him the position he once had as the first-born.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.Gen. 35:27-29
THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF ISAAC
Isaac was an hundred and fourscore years when he died. He must, therefore, have lived in a state of blindness and inactivity for fifty-seven years. His life was greatly prolonged beyond the time when he could be, in any full sense, useful to his fellow men. But when that life reached its close the solemn lessons of it would come home to the survivors.
I. It was the occasion of family re-union. The quarrel between Jacob and Esau had ended in a reconciliation. (Genesis 33) Again they meet in peace for the burial of their father. It was in similar circumstances that Isaac himself and Ishmael had met many years before to bury their father, Abraham. The grave ought to silence all enmities. These two brothers met after many years of separation, each pursuing a different course of life. The marks of time are upon each of themthe impressions of long labours, cares and sorrows. Esau is still the man of the field, renowned in chase and war. Jacob is still devoted to peaceful and domestic pursuits, acquiring wealth slowly by the raising of cattle. He is now chastened and subdued by many a sorrow, his soul humbled by the open visions of God. And now, in the death of his beloved Rachel, the sin of Reuben, and the cruel wrath of Simeon and Levi, his cup of sorrow is full. We have here types of the afflictions, struggles, and enmities of the world; but we have also types of reconciliation, forgiveness and peace, and the great consolations of God.
II. It was at the time of revival for memories of the past. The two brothers, as they stood by his grave, would re-live their old life. Esau would naturally think of the fortresses he had built, of his wives and childrenthose who had been a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah, and of her whom he married to please and reconcile them, Bashemath the daughter of Ishmael. Jacob would think upon the birthright, upon the promises of God renewed to him at Bethel, and now fulfilled in some degree at the death of his father. He would think of blessings yet to come when the glory and greatness of his posterity should increase, and they should have dominion and kingly power. The death of friends forces us to review our associated histories.
III. It was the beginning of another and a higher life. We are told that Isaac was gathered unto his people. This surely signifies more than that he was joined to them in the grave. The expression suggests
1. The idea of rest. The toils and labours of human life end with the grave. Man goeth forth to his labour and to his work until the evening, and then the night of death comes when he can no longer work. The great end for which Isaac lived had now been gained. He had seen his two sons reconciled. He had been at length brought to the belief, though sore against his will, that the blessing of Abraham would descend along the line of Jacob. He had submitted to God. And having attained to this firm belief and resignation, the great work of his life was ended. Rest is welcome when the powers of life are failing and the work of life is done.
2. The idea of re-union in another world. We are told of Abraham that he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God; and further, that Isaac and Jacob were heirs with Him of the same promise. (Heb. 11:9-10.) Surely Isaac died with the thought of meeting the beloved ones who had gone before, in a better country.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Gen. 35:27-29. Three special friends Jacob buries, in this chapter. Crosses come thick; be patient.(Trapp).
We have no clue to his thoughts but the hopes and aspirations of that common nature which are called forth by trials and circumstances, which we have still in common with those who have gone before us in the generations. But this is a clue which we may surely follow, if we let it lead us onward from a more faithful and earnest discharge of our daily duties, especially of filial and paternal duty, to the day when whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord; when the son who honoured his father and mother, either by paying them all deference and respect, or by supporting them in poverty, or by upholding them in their infirmity, or by paying the last tribute of affection and respect to their remains, shall so also himself receive of the Lord.(Robertson).
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(27) The city of Arbah, which is Hebron.Better rendered Kirjath-arba in Gen. 23:2, where see Note.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
ISAAC’S DEATH AND BURIAL, Gen 35:27-29.
27. Jacob came unto Isaac This appears to have been some twelve years previous to the death of Isaac, and therefore long enough to communicate often to his father his varied experiences, and to receive the counsels of the aged patriarch . Jacob was living at Hebron when Joseph was sold, (Gen 37:14,) and the latter was at that time 17 years old . Gen 37:2. Twenty-two years later Jacob went down into Egypt . He was then 130 years old; (Gen 47:9😉 consequently he was now 108, and Isaac 168, (Gen 25:26😉 and Isaac lived at least twelve years after this . So he must have lived to know of the loss of Joseph, and almost up to the beginning of the great famine which led Israel into Egypt .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron) where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
At last Jacob is home. He has come to take up his now rightful place as heir to the family tribe and the covenant promises. He is now in the line of Abraham and Isaac.
For Mamre see 13:18; 14:13; 18:1. Kiriatharba means ‘city of four’, possibly of four parts. It was as an annotator tells us the later city of Hebron. Compare for its use Jos 14:15; Jos 15:54; Jos 20:7; Jdg 1:10.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Epilogue to the Genealogy of Isaac Gen 35:27-29 gives us the closing epilogue of the genealogy of Isaac. It simply gives us the dates of his life and tells us that he died in peace at an old age. When the Scriptures tell us that a patriarch dies in a ripe old age in peace, it implies that this person fulfilled the destiny that God had given him. I believe that we can see this in epilogues to the genealogies of the lives of Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and in the life of Joseph.
Gen 35:27 “the city of Arbah” – Comments – Other translations read, “Kirjah Arba.”
Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
Gen 35:27. Came unto Isaac, &c. Came to dwell with him, and comfort him in his old age; as it is hardly to be supposed, that this was the first visit he made him after his return from Laban. He continued with the good old man almost the space of thirteen, some say nineteen years, till he departed this life in a very advanced age, being a hundred and eighty years old, Gen 35:28 five years older than his father Abraham, having been almost blind and decrepit a considerable part of the time, but always respectable for his piety, tranquillity, and submission to the will of God. His two sons Jacob and Esau, who continued to live in friendship, united in paying the last office to their father, and buried him in the cave of Machpelah with Abraham and Sarah. It should be remembered, that the death of Isaac is mentioned here by anticipation, for he lived twelve years after Joseph was sold into AEgypt.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 35:27
27Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.
Gen 35:27 “Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre” This was the site of another special oak tree (cf. Gen 13:18; Gen 14:13; and Gen 18:1). The time element is uncertain. Did Jacob wait all this time after returning to Canaan to visit his father?! This is probably another historical flashback.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
came. It does not follow that Jacob did not often see Isaac. As soon as Isaac was married, Abraham disappears from the history. It is the same with Isaac when Jacob married: and the same with Jacob when Joseph comes into prominence. They do not appear together in the history: but Abraham is described as “dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob” (Heb 11:9).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jacob: Gen 27:43-45, Gen 28:5
Mamre: Gen 13:18, Gen 14:13, Gen 18:1, Gen 23:2, Gen 23:19, Jos 14:12-15, Jos 15:13, Jos 21:11, 2Sa 2:1, 2Sa 2:3, 2Sa 2:11, 2Sa 5:1, 2Sa 5:3, 2Sa 5:5
Reciprocal: Gen 31:18 – for to go Gen 37:14 – Hebron Gen 47:7 – And Jacob Gen 50:13 – the cave Heb 11:9 – he sojourned
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 35:27. Jacob came unto Isaac his father Probably to dwell with or near him; bringing, it seems, his family with him. We can hardly suppose that this was the first visit he paid him since his return from Mesopotamia.
Without question he had often visited him, though the Scripture be silent as to this particular.