Genesis 45:17

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: load your beasts and go * to the land of Canaan,

Genesis 45:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 45:17

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph
Who, it is highly probable, waited upon Pharaoh to acquaint him with the coming of his brethren; for it cannot be imagined that Pharaoh should say what follows upon a bare report, without having a further account of things from Joseph, or that he would neglect giving it, but take the first opportunity to inform him, whereupon he gave him the following order:

say unto thy brethren, this do ye;
give them directions and instructions to do as follows:

lade your asses:
with provisions for the present necessity of their father's household in Canaan, and for their journey back to Egypt:

and go, get you into the land of Canaan;
with all the haste they could make.

Genesis 45:17 In-Context

15 He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.

16 Now when the news was heard in Pharaoh's house that Joseph's brothers had come, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: load your beasts and go to the land of Canaan,

18 and take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land.'

19 "Now you are ordered, 'Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "come, go"