19:1–24:18 Review · Covenant at Sinai:God’s revelation comes to the people in the wilderness, characteristically a place for purification and for meeting God. The covenant encompasses the whole of Israel’s life. Their community comes into existence at the gracious will of God, and they are expected to exercise appropriate societal and individual responsibilities as his people. Even though there are affinities between the covenant and the Hittite treaty pattern, this relationship between God and the entire people is unique. Furthermore the setting in a narrative context is unique.

Exodus 20 begins the instructive words (torah, or law) of God for the recipients of the covenant. Torah reveals God’s holiness, indicating that there are specific standards of right and wrong; violations of those m…