Moses had sent his wife and sons back to Midian in the midst of the struggles in Egypt.  Jethro (Yitro – the same of this portion) hears of everything that God had done, and that the Israelites are now encamped by the Mountain of God.  Jethro takes Zipporah and her sons and they go to meet Moses. 

The next day, Moses received people all day, who came to Moses to be judged, and asked him, as a representative of God, to settle their matters.  Jethro tells Moses that this work is too hard, and will wear him out.  He suggests, instead, that Moses appoint men of accomplishment to be the leaders of the community, who can take care of the minor matters, and bring only the major disputes to Moses.    Moses heeds Jethro’s voice.

In the third month since the Exodus from Egypt, the Children of Israel arrive in the Wilderness of Sinai.  Moses ascends to God, and God calls to him from the Mountain.  "If you observe My covenant, you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all peoples," God says to him.  "These are the words that you shall speak to the Children of Israel," (Ex. 19:5-6).    Moses summons the elders of the community, and relayed all that God had told him.  "Everything that God has spoken we shall do!" the people exclaim (Ex. 19:8). 

God speaks to Moses again, saying, "I will appear to you in the thickness of a cloud, so that the people will hear as I speak to you, and they will also believe in you forever," (Ex. 19:9).  The people are instructed to wash their clothing and prepare themselves for three days.  They are not to touch the mountain or its edge, or they will die.  On the third day, there was thunder and lightning, and a heavy cloud and the sound of a shofar.   The people could hear Moses speak, and God respond.  God summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and spoke to him, giving Moses the Ten Commandments, and telling him to go down and relay them to the people.

1. I am your God, who has taken you out of Egypt.

2. You shall not recognize any other gods (prohibition of idolatry).

3. You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain.

4. You shall remember the Sabbath and sanctify it.

5. You shall honor your parents.

6. You shall not kill.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness.

10. You shall not covet.

The people listen to Moses, and tremble with fear.  "You speak to us and we shall hear," they say,  "but don’t let God speak directly to us, lest we die," (Ex. 20:16).  God tells them to make an alter, and to make offerings from this alter, and to never make images of god, in silver or gold.  So clearly God tells them this last point, but we’ll soon see what happens to the people when they fail to heed this warning.