After the emotional reunion with his brothers, Joseph shifts from raw sentiment to practical action, initiating the process of bringing his family to Egypt. The message he sends to Jacob is carefully crafted to explain why leaving Canaan is necessary, striking a delicate balance between his immense political power and his enduring identity as a devoted son.
He begins by urging his brothers to hurry back home. This rush is primarily driven by a deep desire to put an immediate end to Jacob's prolonged grief [ספורנו, ביאור יש״ר]. Furthermore, at that very moment, exactly twenty-two years of separation had concluded—a period precisely mirroring the time Jacob himself was once absent from his own parents' home. Knowing this decreed punishment was complete, Joseph wants to ensure his father's suffering does not continue for a single unnecessary second. Because this urgency is tied to the end of their personal separation, Joseph frames the request around his individual relationship with his father, rather than speaking collectively on behalf of all the brothers [חומש קה״ת].
The journey back to Canaan requires an upward climb, as the land sits at a higher elevation than the surrounding regions. While previous ascents in the story of Joseph symbolized spiritual growth or liberation, this journey refers to a literal, topographical climb [פרדס יוסף]. Because walking up mountainous terrain is typically a slow and exhausting process, Joseph specifically emphasizes the need to move quickly and not let the difficult path cause any delays [לבוש האורה].
When structuring the message for his father, Joseph intentionally introduces himself first as a son. He wants to reassure Jacob that despite his royal status and his role as an advisor to the Pharaoh, he remains his child above all else [קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. He then announces his God-given position as the supreme ruler of all Egypt. At first glance, this might sound like an arrogant boast or an inappropriate command directed at a parent [פני דוד]. However, the primary approach among commentators is that this declaration is actually a necessary apology. Joseph is explaining that his massive governmental responsibilities make it impossible for him to leave his post and travel to Canaan to fulfill the Commandment of honoring his father. Therefore, the only option is for Jacob to travel to him.
Moreover, claiming the status of an absolute ruler carries a crucial practical message. Joseph knows Jacob will want his family to live in isolation, far removed from the cultural influences of the Egyptian capital. By asserting his ultimate authority, Joseph signals that he holds the sovereign power required to uproot local Egyptian citizens and clear the territory of Goshen exclusively for the Israelites [העמק דבר]. There, they will be able to live securely, graze their flocks in vast open spaces, and receive a steady supply of food without facing the dangers of traveling the roads [אברבנאל]. Such a massive relocation of citizens is a power held only by a supreme ruler, not an ordinary official. Ultimately, Joseph concludes his message by pleading with his father to relocate to Egypt immediately, without any hesitation or delay [ביאור שטיינזלץ, ביאור יש״ר].