And Abraham was old, well stricken in age (Gen. 24:1). R. Joshua the son of Nahmani said: Men become old prematurely because of four things: fear, grief caused by children, a wicked wife, and wars. We learn about fear from David, as it is written: But David would not go before it to inquire of God; for he was terrified because of the sword of the angel of the Lord (I Chron. 21:30), and that is followed by the verse: And David was old (ibid., v. 31). The consequences of grief brought on by children we learn from Eli. It is written: Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel (I Sam. 2:21). The effect of wars is recorded in what happened to Joshua after he fought with the thirty-one kings: And Joshua was old, well stricken with years (Josh. 23:1). We read about what transpires because of a wicked wife, in the verse: It came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods (I Kings 11:4). However, Abraham’s wife honored him and called him my lord, as is said: And my lord is old (Gen. 18:12). Concerning her Scripture states: A Virtuous woman is a crown to her husband (Prov. 12:4). Hence, it is written of him: And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things (Gen. 24:1).
וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּר נַחְמָנִי, מִפְּנֵי אַרְבָּעָה דְבָרִים הַזִּקְנָה קוֹפֶצֶת עַל אָדָם, מִפְּנֵי הַיִּרְאָה וּמִפְּנֵי כַעַס בָּנִים וּמִפְּנֵי אִשָּׁה רָעָה וּמִפְּנֵי הַמִּלְחָמוֹת. מִפְּנֵי הַיִּרְאָה, מִדָּוִד, דִּכְתִיב: וְלֹא יָכֹל דָּוִיד לָלֶכֶת לְפָנָיו לִדְרֹשׁ אֱלֹהִים כִּי נִבְעַת מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב מַלְאַךְ ה' (דה״א כא, ל). מַה כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו? וְדָוִיד זָקֵן (דה״א כג, א). מִפְּנֵי כַעַס בָּנִים, מֵעֵלִי, דִּכְתִיב: וְעֵלִי זָקֵן מְאֹד וְשָׁמַע אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשׂוּן בָּנָיו לְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל (ש״א ב, כב). מִפְּנֵי הַמִּלְחָמוֹת, מִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, שֶׁלְּאַחַר שֶׁעָשָׂה מִלְחָמוֹת עִם שְׁלֹשִׁים וְאֶחָד מְלָכִים, מַה כְּתִיב בּוֹ, וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים (יהושע כג, א). וּמִפְּנֵי אִשָּׁה רָעָה, דִּכְתִיב: וַיְהִי לְעֵת זִקְנַת שְׁלֹמֹה נָשָׁיו הִטּוּ אֶת לְבָבוֹ אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים (מלכים א יא, ד). אֲבָל אַבְרָהָם, אִשְׁתּוֹ מְכַבְּדַתּוּ וְקוֹרְאַתּוּ אֲדֹנִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַאֲדֹנִי זָקֵן. וְעָלֶיהָ נֶאֱמַר, אֵשֶׁת חַיִל עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ (משלי יב, ד). לְפִיכָךְ כְּתִיב בֵּהּ, וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל.
And Abraham was old, well stricken in age (Gen. 24:1). R. Joshua the son of Nahmani said: Men become old prematurely because of four things: fear, grief caused by children, a wicked wife, and wars. We learn about fear from David, as it is written: But David would not go before it to inquire of God; for he was terrified because of the sword of the angel of the Lord (I Chron. 21:30), and that is followed by the verse: And David was old (ibid., v. 31). The consequences of grief brought on by children we learn from Eli. It is written: Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel (I Sam. 2:21). The effect of wars is recorded in what happened to Joshua after he fought with the thirty-one kings: And Joshua was old, well stricken with years (Josh. 23:1). We read about what transpires because of a wicked wife, in the verse: It came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods (I Kings 11:4). However, Abraham’s wife honored him and called him my lord, as is said: And my lord is old (Gen. 18:12). Concerning her Scripture states: A Virtuous woman is a crown to her husband (Prov. 12:4). Hence, it is written of him: And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things (Gen. 24:1).