Genesis 25:7-11

Genesis 25:7

I. The expression "a good old age" is only used of three individuals in the Scripture Abraham, Gideon, and David. It forms the epitaph recorded by the Spirit on their tombs. By the expression "an old man, and fullof years" we are to understand the satisfaction which the patriarch felt in exchanging this mortal life for a better. On the expression "he was gathered to his people," Calvin remarks that these words contain an intimation of the immortality of the soul. They imply, he says, that there is a society of men in death as well as in life. But the words "he was gathered to his people" are not to be restricted to the condition of believersafter death. When the wicked die, they also are gathered to their people, to those who are of like feelings to themselves.

II. The next point in the narrative is the interment of Abraham. "His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him." This is the only passage from which we can learn that there was any communication between Isaac and Ishmael. Death brings those together who know not how to associate on any other occasion. Notice these points: (1) Abraham owed everything he was and everything he possessed to the grace of God. (2) When the Divine call came to Abraham, he manifested a very strong desire to make his kindred partakers of the blessing which he was to partake of. (3) Much happened to Abraham in the course of his sojourning calculated to render the Divine promises very doubtful to him. (4) Abraham was favoured with communications from on high which of themselves were sufficient to dignify him and to separate him from the whole generation in which he lived.

A. D. Davidson, Lectures and Sermons,p. 96.