What are the implications of the (otherwise superfluous) words ?ve?Eileh Y?mei Chayei Avraham "Asher Chai"?
Rashi and Ramban: Refer to 23:1:3:1.
Or ha'Chayim: It implies that he did not live the full quota of years that he was supposed before his time, in order not to see Eisav go ?off the path?. 1
Malbim: A person's life is only Avodas Hashem. Without this, he is like an animal! Even though Avraham did not recognize Hashem from birth, he repented and fixed those years, so we can say that he lived all his years. 2
Ha'amek Davar: A person's life is his Sh?leimus. Even though Avraham did not recognize Hashem until the age of three (alternatively, at age 48), he had the potential from when he was born.
Why does the Torah write "Shanah" (or Shanim) three times?
Rashi: When Avraham was a hundred he was like when he was seventy for strength, and at seventy, he was as free of sin as when he was five. 1
Why does it say "Yemei" regarding the Avos, but not regarding Sarah?
Ha'amek Davar: The Avos fulfilled also Mitzvas Aseh she'ha'Zeman Gerama, e.g. what applies only during the day, so each day was separate. 1
Ha'amek Davar: We bless on the Lulav each day, because the nights (when the Mitzvah does not apply) interrupt, unlike Sukah.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "[Avraham] was at age 100 like age 70; and at age 70 like age 5 - without sin." What extra word in the verse tells us to interpret thus?
Gur Aryeh (to 23:1): Usually, the Torah inserts the word 'year' (Shanah) for the collective sum (i.e. hundreds), and repeats it for the individual units (tens and ones) together. In our verse (like in 23:1 regarding Sarah), it is repeated by both the tens and ones separately - therefore we may interpret all three.
Rashi writes: "[Avraham] was at age 100 like age 70, and at 70 like 5, without sin." But the repeated words "years" would seem to differentiate between the stages of Avraham's life, not to compare them? Also, the verse below writes similarly regarding Yishmael (25:17) - whose years were not all equivalent, for he had soured and only later did Teshuvah?
Mizrachi (to 23:1): Regarding Avraham, our verse adds, "The days of the years of Avraham's life," this teaches us to compare them for the good. 1 Regarding Yishmael, the verse writes only "the years of Yishmael's life." They were not all good; rather, only after he did Teshuvah.
Gur Aryeh (to 23:1): While the Torah does break up years into units, our Pasuk says "the days of... the life of Avraham, that he lived." Rashi's source lies not in the repetition of the word 'years,' but in his life being presented as a constant during which he did not change. (Likewise in 23:1 regarding Sarah.) But the verse regarding Yishmael is counting his years, not his life.
Rashi writes: "[Avraham] was at age 100 like age 70... without sin." How do we know Avraham did not sin afterwards, after passing age 100?
Gur Aryeh (to 23:1): After 100 years, the Yetzer ha'Ra ceases. Furthermore, if most of a person's years pass by without sin, it is certain that he will no longer sin (Yoma 38b).
