Why Scripture Says the Days of Jacob Drew Near to Die

Our Rabbis said: everyone about whom "drawing near" is stated did not reach the days of his fathers. It is written, "And the days of David drew near to die" (I Kings 2:1) — for he did not reach the days of his fathers Boaz, Obed, and Jesse. Our Rabbis said: they lived more than four hundred years, but David lived only seventy years; he did not reach the days of his fathers, therefore "drawing near" is written concerning him. Amram lived a hundred and thirty-seven years, but Moses lived only a hundred and twenty; therefore "drawing near" is written concerning him: "Behold, your days draw near to die" (Deuteronomy 31:14). And concerning Jacob "drawing near" is written, because he did not reach the days of his fathers. Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years, Isaac a hundred and eighty, but Jacob a hundred and forty-seven; therefore "drawing near" is written concerning him: "And the days of Israel drew near to die" (Genesis 47:29).