John Calvin Commentary Genesis 25:8

"And 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." — Genesis 25:8 (ASV)

Then Abraham gave up the ghost. Those who suppose that this expression denotes sudden death, suggesting that he had not been worn out by long illness but died without pain, are mistaken. Moses rather means to say that the father of the faithful was not exempt from the common lot of humankind, so that our minds do not lose heart when the outward person is perishing. Instead, by meditating on that renewal which is stored up as the object of our hope, we may, with tranquil minds, allow this frail tabernacle to be dissolved.

Therefore, there is no reason why a feeble, emaciated body, failing eyes, trembling hands, and the loss of use of all our limbs should so dishearten us that we do not hasten, following the example of our father, with joy and alacrity to our death. But although Abraham had this in common with the human race—that he grew old and died—Moses, shortly afterwards, distinguishes between him and the general multitude of people regarding the manner of his dying: namely, that he would die in a good old age, and satisfied with life.

Indeed, unbelievers often seem to share in the same blessing; even David complains that they excelled in this kind of privilege. A similar complaint occurs in the book of Job: namely, that they live out their time happily, until in a moment they descend into the grave. But what I said before must be remembered: that the chief part of a good old age consists in a good conscience and in a serene and tranquil mind.

From this it follows that what God promises to Abraham can only apply to those who truly cultivate righteousness. For Plato says, with equal truth and wisdom, that a good hope is the nourishment of old age; and therefore, old men who have a guilty conscience are miserably tormented and are inwardly racked as if by a perpetual torture.

But to this we must add what Plato did not know: that it is godliness which causes a good old age to accompany us even to the grave, because faith is the preserver of a tranquil mind. Related to this is what is immediately added: he was full of days, so that he did not desire an extension of life.

We see how many are in bondage to the desire for life; indeed, nearly the whole world languishes between a weariness of the present life and an inexplicable desire for its continuation. That satiety of life, therefore, which causes us to be ready to leave it, is a unique favor from God.

And was gathered to his people. I gladly embrace the opinion of those who believe that the state of our future life is indicated in this expression, as long as we do not limit it, as some commentators do, to the faithful only. Instead, we should understand by it that humankind are brought together in death as well as in life.

It may seem absurd to worldly people for David to say that the reprobate are gathered together like sheep into the grave. However, if we examine the expression more closely, this gathering together would not occur if their souls were annihilated. The mention of Abraham’s burial will follow shortly. Now, he is said to be gathered to his fathers, which would be inconsistent with fact if human life simply vanished and people were reduced to annihilation. Therefore, Scripture, in speaking this way, shows that another state of life remains after death, so that a departure from the world is not the destruction of the whole person.