Bamidbar 12:3

3 (Now the man Moshe was anav me’od, above all the men which were upon the face of ha’adamah.)

Bamidbar 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 12:3

Now the man Moses [was] very meek
So that they might say anything against him, and he not be affronted, nor resent any injury; and this therefore is introduced as a reason why the Lord undertook the cause, and vindicated him, resenting the obloquies of Miriam and Aaron against him; because he knew he was so exceeding meek, that he himself would pass it by without taking notice of it, though he might hear it: hence the Targum of Jonathan

``and he cared not for their words;''

they gave him no concern or uneasiness, so meek, mild, and gentle was he: and this is to be considered; not as a self-commendation of Moses, but as a testimony of his character by God himself, by whom he was inspired in writing it; though it is possible this might be added by another hand, Joshua or Ezra, under the same direction and inspiration of the Spirit of God; who chose that such a character of Moses should stand here, in opposition to the calumnies cast upon him, and as giving a reason why not he himself, but the Lord, appeared in his vindication, he being so meek and lowly, as is said of his antitype, and by himself, ( Matthew 11:29 ) ;

above all the men which [were] upon the face of the earth;
being seldom angry, and when he was, it was generally, if not always, when the honour of God was concerned, and not on account of his own person and character; though it must not be said of him that he was perfect in this respect, or free from passion, or from blame at any time on account of it, but, when compared with others, he was the meekest man that ever lived; whereby he became the fittest person to have to do with such a peevish, perverse, and rebellious people as the Israelites were, whom no other man could well have bore with.

Bamidbar 12:3 In-Context

1 2 And Miryam and Aharon spoke against Moshe because of the Kushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Kushite woman.

2 And they said, Hath Hashem indeed spoken only by Moshe? Hath He not spoken also by us? And Hashem heard it.

3 (Now the man Moshe was anav me’od, above all the men which were upon the face of ha’adamah.)

4 And Hashem spoke suddenly unto Moshe, and unto Aharon, and unto Miryam, Come out ye three unto the Ohel Mo’ed. And they three came out.

5 And Hashem came down in an Ammud Anan, and stood in the entrance of the Ohel, and He called Aharon and Miryam; and they both came forth.