All to Isaac – Genesis 25:5-6
And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. 6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
Isaac receives all the inheritance, as he is the son of the promise. Ishmael was already sent away back in Genesis 20 when Ishmael was ‘mocking’ Isaac:
And now in similar fashion, the sons of Keturah are also sent away from the presence of Isaac. This was likely done in part to avoid any confusion with the inheritance; no one would be nearby to challenge Isaac after Abraham passes away.
Abraham Dies – Verses 7-10
7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. 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. 9 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; 10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
‘Full of years’ does not seem to be a mere synonym for longevity. That would be an intolerable tautology, for we should then have the same thing said three times over—’an old man,’ ‘in a good old age,’ ‘full of years.’ There must be some other idea than that in these words. If you notice that the expression is by no means a usual one, that it is only applied to one or two of the Old Testament characters, and those selected characters, we will see that there must be some other significance in it than merely to point to length of days.
It may be well to note the instances. In addition to our text, we find it employed:
- first, in reference to Isaac, in Genesis 35:29, where the words are repeated almost verbatim.
- Then we find that David who had a stormy, character defining course in life (1 Chronicles 29:28).
- Once more we read of the great high priest Jehoiada, whose history had been sprinkled with peril, change, brave resistance, and strenuous effort, that with all the storms behind him he died at last (2 Chronicles 24:15).
- The only other instance of the occurrence of the phrase is at the close of the book of Job, a record of the good man suffering, and of the abundant compensations given by a loving God. The fair picture of returning prosperity and family joy, like the calm morning sunshine after a night of storm and wreck, with which that wonderful book ends (Job 42:17).
These are all the instances of the occurrence of this phrase, and I think we may fairly say that in all it is meant to suggest not merely length of days, but some characteristic of the long life over and above its mere length. It may be better understood as ‘satisfied with years.’ The words point to a calm close, with all the years, high and low, as only can be expressed when one is closely connected to God, his Savior. They all went to sleep in the assurance of a future life at the awaited resurrection. We can find this same peace with faith in Christ.
God Blesses Isaac with Promise
And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
This verse says explicitly “the blessing,” God’s favor and promises for Abraham, moved to Isaac, as it would later move to Jacob. In spite of Ishmael’s presence at Abraham’s burial, Isaac was the promised child and the one chosen both by God and Abraham to continue the line of God’s own people (Genesis 17:18–19). This oath is reflected in God’s blessings on Isaac, which continue after the death of his influential father.
Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi. One of Genesis’ famous wells is located here. It’s the place where Hagar heard from the Lord (Genesis 16:13-14) and was apparently Isaac’s preferred spot in the region at that time.