And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:
The verse belongs to Moses' retelling of Israel's forty years of wandering, repeating their failures and victories so the people would remember the lessons God had given them. Moses said he was not able to bear the people alone because Israel had grown so numerous that governing and caring for them had become too great for one person. The burdens, disputes and responsibilities of the multitude required shared leadership through appointed wise, capable and trustworthy judges and rulers who would judge fairly. He outlined the plan for shared leadership for the people's good, and the people agreed to it and promised to follow the Lord's directions. Later they acted against that agreement by complaining about Moses and rebelling.
As part of the words of the Lord in Deuteronomy 1, the verse is written as admonition for those living at the end of the world upon whom the ends of the world are come. Deuteronomy 1, including this verse, is to be read in full as the Lord's words, and to be read with Deuteronomy 7 and 8. It teaches its end-time readers to ask whether a thing or course is the will of the Lord and to learn the word of the Lord and obey His voice. It warns against following the Lord's guidance only up to the point that agrees with their own judgment and then holding fast to their own ideas. It teaches them to view everything in the light of the example of Christ, who is the truth and the true light, to copy His self-denial and self-sacrifice, to be molded after the Lord's similitude unto perfection of character, and to live not to please self.
The verse belongs to Moses' retelling of Israel's forty years of wandering, repeating their failures and victories so the people would remember the lessons God had given them. Moses said he was not able to bear the people alone because Israel had grown so numerous that governing and caring for them had become too great for one person. The burdens, disputes and responsibilities of the multitude required shared leadership through appointed wise, capable and trustworthy judges and rulers who would judge fairly. He outlined the plan for shared leadership for the people's good, and the people agreed to it and promised to follow the Lord's directions. Later they acted against that agreement by complaining about Moses and rebelling.
As part of the words of the Lord in Deuteronomy 1, the verse is written as admonition for those living at the end of the world upon whom the ends of the world are come. Deuteronomy 1, including this verse, is to be read in full as the Lord's words, and to be read with Deuteronomy 7 and 8. It teaches its end-time readers to ask whether a thing or course is the will of the Lord and to learn the word of the Lord and obey His voice. It warns against following the Lord's guidance only up to the point that agrees with their own judgment and then holding fast to their own ideas. It teaches them to view everything in the light of the example of Christ, who is the truth and the true light, to copy His self-denial and self-sacrifice, to be molded after the Lord's similitude unto perfection of character, and to live not to please self.