Why the Early Pious Died of Bowel Illness and a Good Old Age

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 110:5

Rabbi Yehudah bar Ilai said: the early pious ones used to die of a bowel illness over ten or twenty days, to teach that the illness scours clean. Rabbi Yehudah says: anyone of whom "expiring" is said died of a bowel illness. Three of whom "in a good old age" is said: Abraham, David, and Gideon.

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