Augustine of Hippo : WHAT DOES IT MEAN: "HE WAS GATHERED TO THE PEOPLE? — We must see in what sense Scripture says so frequently: "And he gathered it unto his fathers," or: "He was gathered unto his people. This is the language it holds of Jacob, as soon as he is dead, and even before he is buried; but to what people was he assembled? For from him is born the first people who were called the people of Israel. But among those who preceded him are so few just, that we hesitate to give him the name of a people. For if the text said, "It was placed with his parents," there would be no problem. Is it perhaps the people, not only of holy men, but of the people of the angels of that city, according to what is said in the epistle to the Hebrews: But you came near to Mount Zion and to the city of God Jerusalem and the myriads of exulting angels” (Heb. 12:12)? Those who end this life pleasing God are added to this people. It is said that they are added when there is no longer any concern for temptations and no danger of sins. The Scripture, contemplating this, says: Before death you do not praise anyone (Sir. 11:28).” [ — QUESTIONS ON GENESIS, Q. 167 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)