וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם לֹ֕א כִּֽי־עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶ֥ם לִרְאֽוֹת׃
Y él les dijo: No; á ver lo descubierto del país habéis venido.
Ramban
THY SERVANTS HAVE NOT BEEN SPIES. The meaning of this expression is: “We have been trustworthy in all our affairs from our youth on. Your servants have not been spies from then till now.” Similarly, We have not been spies,143Further in Verse 31. means: “We have never been spies.”
Now our Rabbis have been aroused by the matter we have discussed,144Namely, what did the brothers do to justify Joseph’s accusation that they were spies? and they have expounded145Bereshith Rabbah 91:6. that they entered the city by ten different gates in the manner of spies, and it was for this reason that he accused them. Now this is plausible; however, Scripture does not mention it! Moreover, at the very outset, the brothers said to him in defense of themselves, We are all one man’s sons, and [if, as the Midrash has it, the basis of his accusation was that they entered by ten different gates], this itself indicates their guilt.146Since brothers as a rule stay together, the fact that they did not enter by the same gate indicates that they are spies.
Now it is possible to say in explanation of the Midrash that Joseph originally said to them, “you entered by ten gates, and now you are all gathering in one place and conspiring together. This is nothing other than the behavior of spies.” Thereupon they said to him, “It is because we are brothers that we are gathered together.” But he said, “Not so, but you have come to find out the condition of the land.147Verse 12 here. If you were brothers you should have entered by one gate, just as you are now together.” Then they told him that one of them is gone,148Verse 13 here. and that they had gone in search of him, [which was why they entered by different gates]. Scripture, however, does not care to prolong the discussion of the motivation of their arguments.
Now our Rabbis have been aroused by the matter we have discussed,144Namely, what did the brothers do to justify Joseph’s accusation that they were spies? and they have expounded145Bereshith Rabbah 91:6. that they entered the city by ten different gates in the manner of spies, and it was for this reason that he accused them. Now this is plausible; however, Scripture does not mention it! Moreover, at the very outset, the brothers said to him in defense of themselves, We are all one man’s sons, and [if, as the Midrash has it, the basis of his accusation was that they entered by ten different gates], this itself indicates their guilt.146Since brothers as a rule stay together, the fact that they did not enter by the same gate indicates that they are spies.
Now it is possible to say in explanation of the Midrash that Joseph originally said to them, “you entered by ten gates, and now you are all gathering in one place and conspiring together. This is nothing other than the behavior of spies.” Thereupon they said to him, “It is because we are brothers that we are gathered together.” But he said, “Not so, but you have come to find out the condition of the land.147Verse 12 here. If you were brothers you should have entered by one gate, just as you are now together.” Then they told him that one of them is gone,148Verse 13 here. and that they had gone in search of him, [which was why they entered by different gates]. Scripture, however, does not care to prolong the discussion of the motivation of their arguments.