Following the passing of Jacob, old fears resurface among the brothers. Facing the man holding sovereign power over them, they carefully craft a diplomatic message to secure their safety. The timing of this effort is not accidental. On the journey back from burying Jacob, Joseph passed by the very pit into which his brothers had once thrown him. When he paused to bless God for the miracle of his survival there, the brothers witnessed the act and grew afraid. They worried that his old wounds had not healed and that resentment still lingered in his heart, prompting them to act quickly [דעת זקנים].
Too afraid to approach Joseph directly, the brothers appoint representatives to speak on their behalf [רשב״ם, ספורנו, בכור שור, נתינה לגר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The identity of these messengers is a subject of discussion. The primary approach among commentators is that they chose the sons of Bilhah, as Joseph had been close friends with them since their youth [רש״י, חזקוני]. This selection makes practical sense; the brothers wanted to keep the shameful secret of the sale within the family rather than exposing it to strangers. At the same time, it would have been disrespectful to send slaves or young children to bring up such heavy matters involving Jacob [גור אריה, שפתי חכמים, משכיל לדוד]. However, because the message refers to Jacob exclusively as Joseph's father rather than their shared father, some suggest the messengers were indeed individuals outside the immediate circle of brothers, or perhaps even Bilhah herself [ביאור יש״ר].
The brothers give strict instructions on how the message should be delivered. They ask the messenger not to reveal that the brothers sent him. Instead, the messenger is to present the situation as if he personally overheard Jacob instructing the brothers to pass this message to Joseph, thereby making the request seem much more believable [ספורנו, אור החיים].
Regarding the claim that Jacob left this specific command, the primary approach among commentators is that the brothers alter the truth for the sake of peace. Jacob never actually issued such an order, as he never suspected Joseph of holding any malice [רש״י, פרדס יוסף]. The fact that the brothers initiate this message out of sheer fear, rather than simply fulfilling a standard dying wish, proves that the instruction originates entirely from themselves [דברי דוד, תורה תמימה]. Conversely, another perspective suggests that Jacob did eventually learn about the sale [ברכת אשר]. According to this view, he genuinely hinted at his desire for peace during his final blessings to Joseph, praising him for not fighting back against those who had made his life bitter [העמק דבר].
The brothers specifically note that this command was given just before Jacob's passing. They explain this delay by claiming they simply lacked the time to deliver the message until now [ספורנו]. Alternatively, they emphasize this specific timing to show that the command was given before he was actually on his deathbed. This ensures Joseph will view it as an absolute, binding instruction, rather than just a comforting promise made to soothe a dying man [חתם סופר].