Rashi states: “Humble – lowly and patient (savlan).”
The commentators ask why the Torah mentions that Moshe was humble. The Ramban answers that it is coming to teach us that Hashem “was jealous” of Moshe’s great level of humility, which was to such an extent that he did not fight back when others besmirched him. He quotes the Sifri that says in the name of Rav Nosson that Moshe was even dishonored to his face, but he ignored it due to his great humility, and for this, Hashem envied him.
The Reward for Those Who Are Shamed and do not Respond:
Regarding the reward for one who is shamed and does not respond, Sefer Shevet Mussar (Perek 20, Ois 27) writes: One should try to be from amongst those who are shamed and do not respond. Dovid Hamelech saw that Shimi ben Geira cursed him with a terrible curse, and Avishai wanted to harm Shimi, but Dovid said, “Leave Him, for Hashem bade him to curse.” Even though he threw stones and dirt at Dovid, he did not allow him to be harmed. The Medrash says that at that time, the Bais Din Shel Mailoh appointed Dovid to be one of the four on the Merkavah (Divine Chariot).
Baalei Mussar compare this to a dog who is hit with a stick and bites the stick in anger. It is not smart enough to realize that there is a man holding the stick and it is he who is really hitting him. It only sees a stick hitting him, and it gets mad at the stick. So too, when a person is hit by his friend, he should realize that Hashem is really the One hitting him, and his friend is merely the implement He is using to carry out His will. If he gets mad at his friend, he is like the dog who gets mad at the stick.
Additionally, the Gemara says (Bava Basra 23B) that Rav Yirmiya asked many questions in the bais medrash, which bothered the Chochomim to the point that they eventually threw him out of the room. Rav Chaim Vital zy”a (Hakdamah to Shaar Hagilgulim 36) writes that Rav Yirmiya asked a lot of questions in order to create a “rischa d’ohraysa”. He wanted to create a lively Torah discussion in order to enhance the learning. However, he was shamed and thrown out of the bais medrash as a result. He was rewarded greatly for this from Shomayim, with his reward being that when he ascended to the Mesivta D’Rakiya, he was given the job of asking whatever questions came up.
