Genesis 35:28,29 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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 Esau's mind, since he vowed his brother's murder, upon his father's death, Genesis 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.