And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
His sons ... buried him. Death often puts an end to strife; reconciles those who have been alienated; and brings rival relations, as in this instance, to mingle tears over a father's grave. It has been objected that, from the brief interval between a death and a burial in the East, the circumstance of Ishmael's presence to join in the last solemn rites is incredible, considering the remoteness of his dwelling in the wilderness of Paran, Et-Tih (Genesis 21:21). But the distance of Paran from Hebron was not so great as to render it impracticable, especially when account is taken of the migratory habits and the rapid movements of the Bedouins. Some family incidents indicate that friendly conversation was maintained between the patriarchal family and Ishmael (Genesis 28:9). Besides, as Abraham must have sunk through a gradual decay of nature, his death must have been an event long anticipated by his relatives; and what, therefore, so likely as that Ishmael had arrived at Hebron some time previous to his venerable father's decease. The funeral must have been a great solemnity. Isaac the peaceful pastoral chief, with his "trained servants," and Ishmael, "the wild donkey man," with his band of armed followers, would make a most interesting and imposing scene.