Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.
Genesis 25:8 (NASB)
“Breathed his last” is actually the Hebrew word גָּוַע (gava). It has the meaning of “expired,” or “giving up the ghost.”
It is considered a swift and painless death, without physical suffering. Abraham’s death is a good death.
According to the rabbis, “every expiration is a death, but not every death is an expiration.”
Abraham, Isaac, and even Ishmael experience gava.
Later, Abraham’s grandson Jacob has a good death, too.
When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
Genesis 49:33 (NASB)
They are all “gathered to their people.”
Interestingly, the death that comes to humanity in the flood of Genesis 6 and 7 aren’t described as suffering in their demise. It doesn’t describe panic and terror.
So all creatures that moved on the earth perished: birds, livestock, animals, and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind;
Genesis 7:21 (NASB)
The text says they, too, experienced gava.
Perhaps God is merciful.