Three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai. God calls Moses to the mountain and expresses His intent to form a covenant with the Israelites, declaring them as a "kingdom of priests" and a "holy nation." The people unanimously commit to obeying God's words. Preparations ensue for a divine theophany: the people are to sanctify themselves, and boundaries are set around the mountain to prevent anyone from touching it. On the third day, amid thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud, God descends on Mount Sinai. The sound of a trumpet grows louder, and Moses speaks while God answers him with thunder. God further emphasizes the boundaries around the mountain, ensuring no one, except Moses, approaches it.

This chapter introduces the Ten Commandments. God begins by asserting His role in delivering the Israelites from Egypt. The commandments that follow encompass core aspects of Israelite faith and morality: no other gods besides the Lord, prohibition against idolatry, the sanctity of God's name, observance of the Sabbath day, honoring one's parents, and prohibitions against murder, adultery, theft, bearing false witness, and coveting. The theophany intensifies with thunder, lightning, and the sound of the trumpet, causing the people to tremble. They ask Moses to speak to them directly instead of God, fearing they might die from the direct encounter. Moses reassures them, explaining that this divine display is to instill the fear of God in them.

This chapter delves into various laws and ordinances, providing more detailed guidelines on societal conduct. It starts with laws concerning Hebrew servants, detailing their rights and the duration of their service. Female servants, their rights, and conditions for their release or marriage are also addressed. The chapter then transitions to laws about personal injuries, establishing punishments for physical harm, whether intentional, like murder, or accidental. Other rules address situations involving violent disputes, injuries inflicted on pregnant women, and harm caused by animals, like goring oxen. The chapter concludes with regulations about property, including liabilities for open pits and penalties for livestock theft. These laws provide a foundation for justice and order in the emerging Israelite society.