Accused of the severe crime of espionage, the brothers must immediately defend their intentions. Their response combines a strong denial with a clear presentation of their innocent motives. Facing a firm accusation rather than a simple question, their initial denial functions as a desperate plea, asking the Egyptian ruler not to make such a harsh claim [רש"י, מזרחי, שפתי חכמים, גור אריה]. It is a complete rejection of his suspicion, declaring that there is absolutely no foundation to doubt them, even if they had arrived without an obvious reason [אור החיים, העמק דבר].
They counter the accusation by clarifying the exact nature of their journey: they are not spies, but rather humble servants who have arrived to purchase grain [רד"ק, ביאור יש"ר]. They present this as the simple, factual reality of their visit [מזרחי, שפתי חכמים, גור אריה]. A unique perspective notes a hidden layer in their defense. By grouping the ruler and themselves together in their speech, the brothers unknowingly speak a prophetic truth. Both the ruler—through whom God provides the region's food—and the brothers themselves have arrived in Egypt for the exact same shared purpose: survival and sustenance during a devastating famine [אדרת אליהו].
Claiming to be ordinary buyers, however, raises a logical question. Does purchasing food actually prove they are not spies? Historically, spies often disguise themselves as traveling merchants to scout a territory freely [מזרחי, שפתי חכמים]. Because of this, some suggest their response is not meant to be undeniable proof, but merely a sincere declaration of their true intentions [גור אריה]. Yet, others reveal the sharp logic behind the brothers' defense. They assume the ruler is suspicious simply because ten distinguished men arrived together. By explaining that a group journey to secure food is a highly practical and routine action, they attempt to remove the core reason for his suspicion [דברי דוד].
The brothers systematically dismantle the characteristics of espionage. Spies typically arrive without a defined trade, whereas these men have a clear, open objective. Moreover, if a family were truly sending ten spies, they would logically scatter them across different regions to maximize the intelligence gathered. Instead, these men have stayed together as a single, unified group since entering the country [מלבי"ם]. They also explain their seemingly suspicious behavior of blending into the large crowds. This was not an attempt to hide like spies, but rather a fulfillment of their father's instruction to keep a low profile and avoid the evil eye that ten handsome brothers might attract. Once their desire to remain unnoticed is explained, the assumption that they are secretly scouting the land's weaknesses naturally falls apart [כלי יקר].
Finally, their defense rests on a deep moral argument. It is unthinkable that they would come to harm the very place that grants them food and water, ultimately saving their lives. It is a matter of basic gratitude, reflecting the principle that one should never throw a stone into the well from which they drink [פרדס יוסף].