His soul was not required of him, as it was of that fool, Luke 12:20; not forced from him by sharp and violent diseases, but was quietly, easily, and cheerfully yielded up by him into the hands of his merciful God and Father, as the word intimates, in a good old age; good, both graciously, his hoary head being found in the way of righteousness; and naturally, free from the manifold infirmities and calamities of old age. Of which see Ecclesiastes 12:1, &c. Full of years; in the Hebrew it is only full, or satisfied; but you must understand, with days or years, as the phrase is fully expressed, Genesis 35:29 1 Chronicles 23:1, 1 Chronicles 29:28 Job 42:17 Jeremiah 6:11. When he had lived as long as he desired, being in some sort weary of life, and desirous to be dissolved; or full of all good, as the Chaldee renders it; satisfied, as it is said of Naphtali, Deuteronomy 33:23, with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord upon himself, and upon his children; he was gathered to his people; to his godly progenitors, the former patriarchs, the congregation of the just in heaven, Hebrews 12:23; in regard of his soul: for it cannot be meant of his body, which was not joined with them in the place of burial, as the phrase is, Isaiah 14:20, but buried in a strange land, where only Sarah's body lay. And it is observed, that this phrase is used of none but good men, of which the Jews were so fully persuaded, that from this very expression used concerning Ishmael here below, Genesis 25:17, they infer his repentance and salvation. See this phrase, Genesis 15:15, Genesis 49:29 Numbers 20:24, Numbers 27:13 Judges 2:10.
Related Commentaries of Genesis 25:8
Genesis 25:8
8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.