The Torah describes Avraham as “old, advanced in days.” Whereas the term “old” refers to Avraham’s chronological age, the term “advanced in days” refers to the extent to which Avraham “lived” his life and the effect each day had on him.
A person might be old but not advanced in days, if life merely passed him by without deeply affecting him. Avraham, however, was “advanced in days”—he had advanced, entered and immersed himself in the happenings and changes of every day of his life, such that inevitably, experiencing life’s ups and downs so deeply and personally took a physical toll on him as well.
This idea is reflected in the Zohar’s understanding of the words “advanced in days” to mean that Avraham “lacked none of his days” in this world—i.e., he had utilized every single day of his life in the service of G-d. In the words of the Zohar, “When Avraham passed from this world, he rose and vested himself in his days, for he was not lacking even one of these precious garments...”
Just as Avraham was “advanced in days” in the literal sense, having profoundly experienced all the events of his life physically, so had he experienced and fully lived the spiritual significance of every day; there had not been even one day in Avraham’s life during which he had not immersed himself in the spiritual calling of the moment.
—Likkutei Sichos, vol. 35, pp. 90–92
6. Zohar 1:224a.
