Genesis 35:29

Isaac gave up the ghost. A better rendition of the Hebrew would be, “Isaac breathed his last,” as in the RSV (see on ch. 25:8). It is generally agreed that the death of Isaac is mentioned here out of its chronological order, inasmuch as several of the events narrated in succeeding chapters, particularly chs. 37 and 38, must have happened during his lifetime (see on v. 28). His obituary is inserted in anticipation of his actual death, to avoid interrupting the history of Joseph. Isaac’s death apparently came toward the close of Joseph’s three years in prison.

Esau and Jacob buried him. Esau and Jacob had been fully reconciled now for about 23 years. It is not strange therefore to find Esau joining Jacob in the last rites for their honored father. Under similar circumstances Isaac and Ishmael had cooperated in the burial of Abraham (ch. 25:9). Isaac was pious and humbly submissive before God, amiable and generous toward his fellow men. In comparison with that of his son Jacob, his own character was by far the more excellent.