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

(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) The man Moses was very meek - (Exodus 14:13; Exodus 32:12-13; Numbers 14:13; Numbers 21:7; Deuteronomy

This is added as the reason why Moses took no notice of their reproach, but was one that heard it not, and why God did so speedily and severely plead Moses’ s cause, because he did not avenge himself. Quest. 1. Did it become Moses thus to commend himself? Answ. 1. The holy penmen of Scripture are not to be measured or censured by other profane writers, because they are guided by special instinct in every thing they write; and as they ofttimes publish their own and their near relations’ greatest faults, where it may be useful to the honour of God, and the edification of the church in after-ages; so it is not strange if for the same reasons sometimes they commend themselves, especially when they are forced to it by the insolence and contempt of their adversaries, which was Moses’ s case here, in which case St. Paul also commends himself, , &c. ,12; which they might the better do, because all their writings and carriage made it evident to all men that they did not this out of vain-glory, and that they were exalted above the affectation of men’ s praises, and the dread of men’ s reproaches. 2. This might be added, as some other clauses were, by some succeeding prophet, which was no disparagement to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, seeing it is all written by one hand, though divers pens be used by it. Quest. 2: How was Moses so meek, when we oft times read of his anger, as 16:20 32:19 20:10,11, compared with ,33? Answ. 1. The meekest men upon earth are provoked sometimes, yea, oftener than Moses was. 2. True meekness doth not exclude all anger, but only such as is unjust, or immoderate, or implacable. Moses was and ought to be angry where God was offended and dishonoured, as he was in almost all the places alleged.

Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses [was] very meek, above all the men which [were] upon the face of the earth.)Ver. 3. Now the man Moses was very meek.] So free from passions, if Josephus may be believed, that he knew no such thing in his own soul; he only knew the names of such things, and saw them in others, rather than in himselfi Of Beza it is said, Quod sine felle vixerit, that he was without gall or guile, and he lived to a great age as Moses did, and as Mr Dod did. Their meekness preserved them. Above all the men.] And yet Moses could be angry enough when there was cause. Yea, how blessedly blown up was he with a zeal for God, and what a stomach shows he in that case! Nazianzen saith of Athanasius, that he was magnes et adamas, a loadstone in his sweet gentle drawing nature, and yet an adamant in his resolute stout carriage against those that were evil. Some are of opinion that this verse was added by Joshua or Esdras, as also those three verses. Weems.

(3) Now the man Moses was very meek . . . —These words have been urged by some as an argument against the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch generally, or of the Book of Numbers in particular, but whether they may or may not have been inserted by a later writer, this inference is altogether unfounded. It is possible that the writer of Deu 34:10 may have inserted these words in this place. On the other hand, there is no necessity for such a supposition. An objective statement, such as that contained in these words, is perfectly consistent with true humility and with a deep sense of sinfulness and frailty. When such expressions are required in order to a full understanding of all the circumstances of the history, they afford no just ground of objection either against the writer, or against the genuineness of the writing; and least of all can they be justly objected to in the case of those who, like Moses and St. Paul, were ever ready to sacrifice their own personality in the cause to which they had devoted their lives (comp. 2 Corinthians 11:5). It may be observed, further, that the word anav, meek, is frequently interchanged with the cognate word ani, and that the meaning may be bowed down, or oppressed.

Verse 3. Now the man Moses was very meek] How could Moses, who certainly was as humble and modest as he was meek, write this encomium upon himself? I think the word is not rightly understood; ענו anav, which we translate meek, comes from ענה anah, to act upon, to humble, depress, afflict, and is translated so in many places in the Old Testament; and in this sense it should be understood here: "Now this man Moses was depressed or afflicted more than any man האדמה haadamah, of that land." And why was he so? Because of the great burden he had to bear in the care and government of this people, and because of their ingratitude and rebellion both against God and himself: of this depression and affliction, see the fullest proof in the preceding chapter. The very power they envied was oppressive to its possessor, and was more than either of their shoulders could sustain.

3. very meek] very humble; it might almost be rendered ‘very pious.’ The word does not connote meekness towards men, in the sense of patience under wrongs or insults, but always pious humility towards God. It is found frequently in the Psalms; and see Zephaniah 2:3. Because of Moses’ humble piety, Jehovah grants him an overwhelming vindication in answer to the jealous challenge. To those who have held that the Pentateuch was from Moses’ own pen, this verse, with its appearance of self-righteousness, has always been a serious difficulty.

3. Moses was very meek — This statement is not a gratuitous piece of self-praise, but is necessary in order to bring out the reason why Moses not only refused to vindicate himself, but also to invoke