King James Bible
"And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:"
Moses recalls addressing the Israelites during their wilderness journey, introducing a pivotal moment of administrative reform. This phrase marks the beginning of his retelling of how Israel's leadership structure was established, emphasizing the historical nature of his account. Moses openly acknowledges his human limitations in governing the rapidly growing nation, estimated at over 600,000 men plus families. This admission of inadequacy demonstrates humble leadership and sets the stage for the appointment of judges and officials described in subsequent verses, following the advice of his father-in-law Jethro.