GEN1610 The Talmud Yevamot 65b says that a person may lie for the sake of peace and gives three biblical precedents for this concept.   [One of them is this verse; the other two are Samuel during his journey to anoint David Samuel I 16:2-5, and God, explaining to Abraham why Sarah laughed Genesis 18:12-13.]   It is clear that Jacob never uttered these words because if Jacob had wanted to prevent Joseph’s vengeance against his brothers, he would have told Joseph, not the brothers, not to take revenge (it is doubtful if Jacob actually ever found out about the sale).   The Torah itself tells us why the brothers “lied” about their father’s statement – in order to prevent recriminations by Joseph now that their father was dead.  AMEMEI 293-4