What does the Torah mean when it writes that the brothers came to buy grain, "among the arrivals"?
Rashi: It means that, following their father's instructions, they made themselves inconspicuous, by each one entering Egypt via a different gate. 1
Seforno: People would purchase in large groups, to protect themselves against robbers.
Moshav Zekenim: They thought, let us not buy from Egypt themselves, lest Yosef see us and complain [to the rulers] that we sold him. Rather, we will buy from people who come to buy and resell for a profit. Yosef anticipated this, and enacted that people may buy only what they need, and only from Yosef.
Oznayim la'Torah: Their father had instructed them not to appear all together on account of Ayin ha'Ra. The Torah is now telling us that there were plenty of people going down to Egypt with whom to mix.
Ohr ha'Chayim: They hid themselves amidst those who came to buy due to the famine, to dispel concern that they are spies, 2 like Yosef actually accused them.
Malbim: The Torah teaches why there should not have been concern lest they are spies. They came among others who came to buy; and they were Bnei Yisrael, who are known to be peaceful. 3
Ha'amek Davar: This hints to Bnei Yisrael in exile. The kingdoms that subjugate them will rule over many lands, and Yisrael are among them. It says Bnei Yisrael, and not Bnei Yaakov, to hint to the nation in the future.
Rashi: Because they were all strong and good-looking, and had they entered together, they would have been subject to 'Ayin ha'Ra' (But also refer to 42:6:2:1, to 42:9:3:3; 42:9:3:5; and to 42:5:2:1.)
Why should they be suspected of being spies? Everyone needed to buy food! Perhaps this is like Rashi said (to 42:3), that they intended to redeem Yosef. I.e., they would ask about who had bought a slave from Eretz Kena'an. They hid themselves amidst the buyers, so it looked like they primarily came to buy. (PF)
Where did they get this reputation? They killed all the men in the great city of Shechem! Perhaps since they had no quarrels with anyone in the last 31 years, in spite of their strength, they got this reputation. (PF)
What is the significance of the last phrase in the Pasuk "(Ki Hayah ha'Ra'av...")?
Rashi: This connects with the previous phrase - to teach us that Yosef's brothers came together with other Kena'anim, who comprised many caravans, due to the famine in Kena'an.
