John Calvin Commentary Genesis 47:28

"And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were a hundred forty and seven years." — Genesis 47:28 (ASV)

And Jacob lived. It was a significant source of temptation for the holy old man to be an exile from the land of Canaan for so many years. Granted, because of the famine, he was compelled to go to Egypt; why could he not return when the fifth year had passed?

For he did not foolishly remain there in a state of lethargy; instead, he remained quiet because he was not allowed to leave freely. Therefore, in this respect also, God did not test his patience lightly.

For however sweet the delights of Egypt might be, he was nevertheless extremely miserable at being deprived of the sight of that land, which was a vivid symbol of his heavenly homeland. For people of this world, indeed, earthly advantage would have prevailed; but such was the holy man's piety that the profit of the flesh weighed nothing against the loss of spiritual good.

But he was more deeply wounded when he saw his death approaching, because not only was he himself being deprived of the inheritance promised to him, but he was also leaving his sons—whose faith was doubtful, or at least weak—buried in Egypt as if in a tomb. Moreover, his example is presented to us so that our minds may not grow weary or become weakened by the exhaustion of a prolonged spiritual battle. Indeed, the more Satan attempts to weigh them down to the earth, the more fervently let them look and soar towards heaven.