(ז) וְאֵ֗לֶּה יְמֵ֛י שְׁנֵֽי־חַיֵּ֥י אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־חָ֑י מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְחָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃ (ח) וַיִּגְוַ֨ע וַיָּ֧מׇת אַבְרָהָ֛ם בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה זָקֵ֣ן וְשָׂבֵ֑עַ וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃ (ט) וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ אֹת֜וֹ יִצְחָ֤ק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ בָּנָ֔יו אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה עֶפְרֹ֤ן בֶּן־צֹ֙חַר֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵֽא׃ (י) הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־קָנָ֥ה אַבְרָהָ֖ם מֵאֵ֣ת בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת שָׁ֛מָּה קֻבַּ֥ר אַבְרָהָ֖ם וְשָׂרָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃
(7) This was the total span of Abraham’s life: one hundred and seventy-five years. (8) And Abraham breathed his last, dying at a good ripe age, old and contented; and he was gathered to his kin. (9) His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, (10) the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites; there Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּרַבִּי אִיתְיְלִידָא לֵיהּ בְּרַתָּא, הֲוָה קָא חָלַשׁ דַּעְתֵּיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֲבוּהּ: רְבִיָּה בָּאָה לָעוֹלָם. אֲמַר לֵיהּ בַּר קַפָּרָא: תַּנְחוּמִין שֶׁל הֶבֶל נִיחֶמְךָ אֲבוּךְ – [דְּתַנְיָא:] אִי אֶפְשָׁר לָעוֹלָם בְּלֹא זְכָרִים וּבְלֹא נְקֵבוֹת; אֶלָּא אַשְׁרֵי לְמִי שֶׁבָּנָיו זְכָרִים, אוֹי לוֹ לְמִי שֶׁבָּנָיו נְקֵבוֹת. אִי אֶפְשָׁר לָעוֹלָם בְּלֹא בַּסָּם וּבְלֹא בּוּרְסִי; אַשְׁרֵי מִי שֶׁאוּמָּנוּתוֹ בּוּסְמִי, אוֹי לְמִי שֶׁאוּמָּנוּתוֹ בּוּרְסִי. כְּתַנָּאֵי: ״וַה׳ בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל״ – מַאי ״בַּכֹּל״? רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: שֶׁהָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת. אֲחֵרִים אוֹמְרִים: בַּת הָיְתָה לוֹ לְאַבְרָהָם, וּ״בַכֹּל״ שְׁמָהּ. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַמּוֹדָעִי אוֹמֵר: אִיצְטַגְנִינוּת הָיְתָה בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, שֶׁכׇּל מַלְכֵי מִזְרָח וּמַעֲרָב מַשְׁכִּימִין לְפִתְחוֹ. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: אֶבֶן טוֹבָה הָיְתָה תְּלוּיָה בְּצַוָּארוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, שֶׁכׇּל חוֹלֶה הָרוֹאֶה אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד מִתְרַפֵּא; וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁנִּפְטַר אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ מִן הָעוֹלָם – תְּלָאָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּגַלְגַּל חַמָּה. אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: אִידַּלִּי יוֹמָא אִידַּלִּי קְצִירָא. דָּבָר אַחֵר: שֶׁלֹּא מָרַד עֵשָׂו בְּיָמָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר: שֶׁעָשָׂה יִשְׁמָעֵאל תְּשׁוּבָה בְּיָמָיו. שֶׁלֹּא מָרַד עֵשָׂו בְּיָמָיו – מְנָלַן? דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיָּבֹא עֵשָׂו מִן הַשָּׂדֶה, וְהוּא עָיֵף״, וְתָנָא: אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם נִפְטַר אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, וְעָשָׂה יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ תַּבְשִׁיל שֶׁל עֲדָשִׁים לְנַחֵם אֶת יִצְחָק אָבִיו. [וּמַאי שְׁנָא שֶׁל עֲדָשִׁים?] אָמְרִי בְּמַעְרְבָא מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבָּה בַּר מָרִי: מָה עֲדָשָׁה זוֹ אֵין לָהּ פֶּה, אַף אָבֵל אֵין לוֹ פֶּה. דָּבָר אַחֵר: מָה עֲדָשָׁה זוֹ מְגוּלְגֶּלֶת, אַף אֲבֵילוּת מְגַלְגֶּלֶת וּמְחַזֶּרֶת עַל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם. מַאי בֵּינַיְיהוּ? אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ לְנַחוֹמֵי בְּבֵיעֵי. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: חָמֵשׁ עֲבֵירוֹת עָבַר אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם – בָּא עַל נַעֲרָה מְאוֹרָסָה, וְהָרַג אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ, וְכָפַר בָּעִיקָּר, וְכָפַר בִּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, וְשָׁט אֶת הַבְּכוֹרָה. בָּא עַל נַעֲרָה מְאוֹרָסָה – כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״וַיָּבֹא עֵשָׂו מִן הַשָּׂדֶה״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״כִּי בַשָּׂדֶה מְצָאָהּ״. הָרַג אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ – כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״עָיֵף״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״אוֹי נָא לִי כִּי עָיְפָה נַפְשִׁי לְהֹרְגִים״. וְכָפַר בָּעִיקָּר – כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״לָמָּה זֶה לִי״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ״. וְכָפַר בִּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים – דִּכְתִיב: ״הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ לָמוּת״. וְשָׁט אֶת הַבְּכוֹרָה – דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּבֶז עֵשָׂו אֶת הַבְּכוֹרָה״. וְשֶׁעָשָׂה יִשְׁמָעֵאל תְּשׁוּבָה בְּיָמָיו – מְנָלַן? כִּי הָא דְּרָבִינָא וְרַב חָמָא בַּר בּוּזִי הֲווֹ יָתְבִי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא, וְקָא מְנַמְנֵם רָבָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבִינָא לְרַב חָמָא בַּר בּוּזִי, וַדַּאי דְּאָמְרִיתוּ: כׇּל מִיתָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ ״גְּוִיעָה״ – זוֹ הִיא מִיתָתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין. וְהָא דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנַן ״גְּוִיעָה״ וַ״אֲסִיפָה״ קָאָמְרִינַן. וְהָא יִשְׁמָעֵאל, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ ״גְּוִיעָה״ וַ״אֲסִיפָה״! אַדְּהָכִי אִיתְּעַר בְּהוּ רָבָא, אֲמַר לְהוּ: דַּרְדְּקֵי, הָכִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: יִשְׁמָעֵאל עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה בְּחַיֵּי אָבִיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ יִצְחָק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל בָּנָיו״. וְדִילְמָא דֶּרֶךְ חׇכְמָתָן קָא חָשֵׁיב לְהוּ! אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה, ״וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אוֹתוֹ עֵשָׂו וְיַעֲקֹב בָּנָיו״, מַאי טַעְמָא לָא חָשֵׁיב לְהוּ דֶּרֶךְ חׇכְמָתָן? אֶלָּא מִדְּאַקְדְּמֵיהּ – אַדְבּוֹרֵי אַדְבְּרֵיהּ, וּמִדְּאַדְבְּרֵיהּ – שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ תְּשׁוּבָה עֲבַד בְּיָמָיו.
It is reported that a daughter was born to Rabbi Shimon, son of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, and he was upset that he did not have a son. His father said to him: Propagation has come to the world through the birth of a daughter. Bar Kappara said to Rabbi Shimon: Your father has consoled you with meaningless consolation, as it is taught in a baraita: The world cannot endure without males and females, as both are needed for the perpetuation of humanity. But fortunate is he whose children are males and woe to him whose children are females. Similarly, the world cannot endure without either a spice dealer whose wares are sweet-smelling, or a tanner [bursi], who is engaged in a foul-smelling occupation. Fortunate is he whose occupation is a spice seller, and woe to him whose occupation is a tanner. The Gemara comments that this disagreement is parallel to a dispute between tanna’im: The Torah states: “And the Lord blessed Abraham with everything [bakkol]” (Genesis 24:1), and the Sages disagree about what bakkol means. Rabbi Meir says: The blessing is that he did not have a daughter. Rabbi Yehuda says: On the contrary, the blessing was that he had a daughter. Others say: Abraham had a daughter and her name was Bakkol. Rabbi Elazar HaModa’i says: Abraham our forefather was so knowledgeable in astrology [itztagninut] that all the kings of the East and the West would come early to his door due to his wisdom. This is the blessing of bakkol, that he possessed knowledge that everybody needed. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: A precious stone hung around the neck of Abraham our forefather; any sick person who looked at it would immediately be healed. When Abraham our forefather died, the Holy One, Blessed be He, hung this stone from the sphere of the sun, which from that point on brought healing to the sick. Abaye said: This explains the adage that people say: As the day progresses, sickness is lifted. Alternatively, what is the blessing of bakkol? That Esau did not rebel in Abraham’s lifetime, that is to say, as long as Abraham lived Esau did not sin. Alternatively, the blessing of bakkol is that Ishmael repented in Abraham’s lifetime. The Gemara explains: From where do we derive that Esau did not rebel in Abraham’s lifetime? As it is written: “And Jacob was cooking a stew and Esau came in from the field and he was faint” (Genesis 25:29), and a baraita taught: On that day Abraham our forefather passed away, and Jacob our forefather prepared a lentil stew to comfort Isaac, his father, as it was customary to serve mourners lentil stew. The Gemara explains: And what is different about lentils that they in particular are the fare customarily offered to mourners? They say in the West, Eretz Yisrael, in the name of Rabba bar Mari: Just as this lentil has no mouth, i.e., it does not have a crack like other legumes, so too a mourner has no mouth, that is, his anguish prevents him from speaking. Alternatively, just as this lentil is completely round, so too mourning comes around to the inhabitants of the world. The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between the two explanations? The Gemara answers: There is a practical difference between them with regard to whether it is appropriate to console a mourner with eggs, which have no opening but are not completely round. Rabbi Yoḥanan says: That wicked Esau committed five transgressions on that day that Abraham died: He engaged in sexual intercourse with a betrothed maiden, he killed a person, he denied the principle of God’s existence, he denied resurrection of the dead, and he despised the birthright. The Gemara cites proofs to support these charges. He engaged in sexual intercourse with a betrothed maiden, as it is written here: “And Esau came in from the field”; and it is written there with regard to rape of a betrothed maiden: “For he found her in a field” (Deuteronomy 22:27). He killed a person, as it is written here: “And he was faint”; and it is written there: “Woe is me, for my soul faints before the slayers” (Jeremiah 4:31). And he denied the principle of God’s existence, as it is written here: “What profit is this to me” (Genesis 25:32); and it is written there: “This is my God and I will glorify Him” (Exodus 15:2). When he questioned the profit of “this,” he was challenging the assertion that “this is my God.” And he denied resurrection of the dead, as it is written: “Behold, I am at the point of death” (Genesis 25:32), indicating that he did not believe in resurrection after death. And he despised the birthright, as it is written: “And Esau despised the birthright” (Genesis 25:34). And from where do we derive that Ishmael repented in Abraham’s lifetime? From the incident involving Ravina and Rav Ḥama bar Buzi, who were sitting before Rava, and Rava was dozing while they were talking. Ravina said to Rav Ḥama bar Buzi: Is it true that you say that any death with regard to which the word gevia, expire, is mentioned is the death of the righteous? Rav Ḥama bar Buzi said to him: Yes. For example: “And Isaac expired [vayyigva], and died” (Genesis 35:29). Ravina objected: But with regard to the generation of the flood it states: “And all flesh expired [vayyigva]” (Genesis 7:21), and there they died for their wickedness. Rav Ḥama bar Buzi said to him: We say this only when both gevia and asifa, gathering, are used; when these two terms are mentioned together they indicate the death of a righteous person. Ravina asked: But isn’t there Ishmael, about whom gevia and asifa are written, as it is stated: “And these are the years of the life of Yishmael…and he expired and died [vayyigva vayyamot]; and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:17)? Meanwhile Rava, who had heard the discussion in his dozed state, fully awoke and said to them: Children [dardekei], this is what Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Ishmael repented in the lifetime of his father, as it is stated: “And Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him” (Genesis 25:9). The fact that Ishmael allowed Isaac to precede him demonstrates that he had repented and accepted his authority. The Gemara asks: But perhaps the verse listed them in the order of their wisdom; that is to say, perhaps in fact Ishmael preceded Isaac but the Torah did not list them in that order. The Gemara answers: But if that is so, consider that the verse states: “And Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him” (Genesis 35:29). What is the reason that the verse there did not list them in the order of their wisdom? Rather, since Ishmael allowed Isaac to precede him, it is clear that he made Isaac his leader, and since he made him his leader, learn from it that he repented in Abraham’s lifetime.