Before looking at other passages in this section of Exodus in which we shall see more of the detailed Law, we should look at the Covenant ceremony which took place at the foot of the mountain in which the people bound themselves to obey the commands of God.

Through the mediation of Moses, his spokesman, God had made clear to Israel his relationship to them and their relationship to him. The God whose power and care they had experienced took the Israelites as his special people if they would obey him. They agreed to obey him and commit themselves to him, as their God. This relationship and commitment was sealed in a ceremony which has similarities with the covenant ceremony of Genesis 15. Moses built an altar and set up twelve stones to symbolize the twelve tribes of the people. Cattle were sacrificed and the blood of the cattle was poured out. Moses then took half of the blood and poured it on the altar, the place of meeting with God. He then took the book of the Covenant, in which the divine commands had been written down by him, and read it to the people who confirmed that they would obey all that had been commanded. Moses then threw the remainder of the blood over the people.

The blood poured out on the altar and over the people bound the people to God. The offering of the life, understood to be in the blood, of prized animals, was the most precious offering which could be made to God. The gift of life was offered back to the giver, acknowledging his Lordship and their homage.

In this ceremony the people responded to God's initiative expressed in 19: 4-6. God had chosen the descendants of Jacob to be his own people, had revealed his character to them, and had separated them from all the other peoples of the earth for his service. In the ceremony of sacrifice, the people accepted their election and call to service and bound themselves to obey their God.

From the large number of laws referring to very many aspects of life and worship found in the four Pentateuchal books, we shall look at a selection.