Why the Vayechi Portion Is Sealed and Death Is Hard for God to Decree

Portion of Vayechi. (Genesis 47:28) "And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years." Why is this portion more closed (setumah) than every other portion in the Torah? Because once Jacob our father passed away, the bondage began. Another interpretation: because Jacob our father sought to reveal the End [of days], and it was sealed (nistam) from him. Another interpretation: because all the troubles of the world were sealed away from him. (Genesis 47:29-31) (Written in remez 141.) "Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of His faithful ones" (Psalm 116:15). It is difficult before the Holy One, blessed be He, to decree death upon the righteous. Thus Scripture could have said to Moses, "You are to die," but it did not say so; rather it linked the death to days, "Behold, your days draw near to die" (Deuteronomy 31:14). And so too with Jacob.