After forming Israel as His own people, by freeing them from slavery in Egypt, God led the Israelites to Mt. Sinai. Moses went up the mountain to God. Then the LORD … said, “…tell the Israelites: …, if you … keep my covenant, … You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. …” So Moses went and … the people all answered together, “Everything the LORD has said, we will do.” Exo 19:3-8
So …
… Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke, for the LORD came down upon it in fire. The smoke rose from [the mountain] as though from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. The trumpet blast grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking and God answering him with thunder. Exo 19:17-19
Then God delivered all these commandments: Exo 20:1
“I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, … Exo 20:2
You shall not have other gods besides me. Exo 20:3
“You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. Exo 20:7
“Remember to keep holy the sabbath day. Exo 20:8
“Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life … Exo 20:12
“You shall not kill. Exo 20:13
“You shall not commit adultery. Exo 20:14
“You shall not steal. Exo 20:15
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exo 20:16
…You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, …
[You shall not covet] anything … that belongs to [your neighbor] Exo 20:17
When the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the mountain smoking, they all feared and trembled. So they took up a position much farther away Exo 20:18
and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we shall die.” Exo 20:19
… “We will do everything that the LORD has told us.” Exo 24:3
So, … Moses passed into the midst of the cloud as he went up on the mountain; and there he stayed for forty days and forty nights. Exo 24:17-18
This is what the LORD then said to Moses: Exo 25:1
“They shall make a sanctuary for me, Exo 25:8
“There, at the altar, I will meet the Israelites; … I will dwell in the midst of the Israelites and will be their God. Exo 29:43-45