VirginiaHuguenot
Puritanboard Librarian
While studying Matthew Poole (see his Annotations at Gen. 25.8), I came across a statement from John Lightfoot cited by Poole in Poole's Synopsis at Gen. 25.17 which is of interest:
The salvation of Ishmael is probable from this phrase [Placed near to his people or "gathered unto his people" -- see Poole at Gen. 25.8], and from the prayer of Abraham for him, and God's response, Genesis 17:18, 20, and from the reckoning of his lifetime, and because Esau, so that he might placate his parents, married into his family.