The passing of Isaac marks the peaceful end of a monumental era, culminating in the reunion of his two sons to pay their final respects. Although placed at this point in the narrative to conclude his life story before detailing the genealogies of his children [ביאור יש״ר, ביאור שטיינזלץ], his death actually occurred twelve years after Joseph was sold [רש״י]. The text hints at this out-of-order placement [משכיל לדוד], choosing to emphasize that Isaac lived long enough to witness the safe return of his blessed son Jacob before leaving the world [ביאור יש״ר].
His passing reflects the distinct, tranquil departure reserved for the righteous [אלשיך]. The concept of his soul returning to his ancestors holds profound significance regarding immortality. It represents a return to a spiritual source, where the soul immediately unites with those of similar nature and deeds in the afterlife, requiring no further purification. This stands in stark contrast to the spiritual severance experienced by the wicked [אם למקרא, אלשיך]. Isaac departed at an advanced age, deeply satisfied with his life [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Reaching such a state of fulfillment is a unique praise for the righteous [קיצור בעל הטורים], indicating that he achieved everything he set out to do. He left the world with a soul full of joy, carrying no regrets or feelings of missed opportunities [ביאור יש״ר].
At the burial, Esau and Jacob stood together, with Esau taking the lead. The primary approach among commentators is that Jacob honored Esau as the biological firstborn, allowing him to walk ahead now that they had made peace. Some suggest this deference stemmed from lingering apprehension over having taken the blessings [צאינה וראינה]. Others understand it as proof that Jacob sought no material or social dominance from the birthright, willingly yielding ceremonial honor to his older brother [רש ר הירש]. This dynamic differs markedly from Abraham's burial, where the younger Isaac preceded Ishmael. Commentators explain that while Isaac was the son of the primary wife and Ishmael the son of a maidservant, Esau and Jacob shared the same mother, making age the deciding factor [רשב״ם, בכור שור, חזקוני]. Another perspective suggests Esau led because of the special love Isaac had for him [פענח רזא]. Conversely, it is noted that while Ishmael repented and deferred to his brother, Esau never changed his ways and simply seized the firstborn honor for himself [אלשיך].
Finally, the exact location of the burial is left unstated, unlike the highly detailed accounts of where Abraham and Jacob were laid to rest. Because Abraham and Jacob were transported from distant locations, their destinations required specification. Isaac, however, lived his final years and passed away in Hebron. It was therefore entirely natural and understood that his sons buried him exactly where he was, alongside his parents in the ancestral tomb [ביאור יש״ר, ברכת אשר על התורה].