Genesis 45:17
“Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this. Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.”
What does Genesis 45:17 mean?
Pharaoh is giving Joseph permission to send his family home to Canaan, and he's doing it generously. This moment comes after Joseph has revealed himself to his brothers, who had sold him into slavery years before, and after he's helped Egypt survive a terrible famine. By openly endorsing Joseph's plan and essentially commanding the brothers to go home, Pharaoh is validating Joseph publicly and showing honor to him. It's a picture of how far Joseph has risen, from a prisoner to someone whose wishes the most powerful person in Egypt will support. For Joseph's brothers, it meant they could return home safely, knowing they had the backing of the highest authority in the land.