The Book of the Covenant, also called Sefer HaBeriyth, was written by Mosheh. This was before Mosheh ascended the Mount to speak with YaHVaH and receive the tablets. What was written therein was the spoken Words of YaHVaH to Mosheh, Aharon (Aaron), Abiyhu, and seventy elders of Yisrael.
In Exodus 20:1 we read, “And spoke Elohiym all these words saying:” When did YaHVaH speak and to who? He spoke at Mount Sinai on the third day (19:16) with thunder and lightning. The Mount was smoking due to His descending to it in fire (19:18). He spoke to all the people of Yisrael. “Mosheh spoke and Elohiym responded to him in a voice” Exodus 19:19. YaHVaH spoke the commandments, Exodus 20:2-14, within the hearing of the people.
What happened? The people became afraid because they saw the thunder and lightning and the smoking mountain; they heard the sounds (20:18). “And they said to Mosheh, ‘You speak to us and we shall hear, let not Elohiym speak to us lest we die” (Exodus 20:19). Thereafter, the people stood back and let Mosheh go up to speak with Elohiym. Elohiym does not seem slighted by this, but continues to speak to Mosheh (20:22).
According to Exodus 24:1, Aharon, Nabad, Abiyhu, and seventy elders of Yisrael prostrated themselves from afar, while Mosheh approached YaHVaH alone. The rest of the people would have been even further away. Yet when Mosheh returns, he spoke all the words and ordinances to the entire people. Their response? They “responded with one voice and said, ‘All the words that YaHVaH spoke, we will do'” (Exodus 24:3).
YaHVaH had spoken all the way from Exodus 20:1 to 23:33, and all was written down. How do we know? Because in Exodus 24:4 it continues, “And wrote Mosheh all the Words of YaHVaH,” then he offered up some sacrifices. Next, “He took the Sefer HaBeriyth, Book of the Covenant, and read it within earshot of the people, and they said [again], ‘All the words that YaHVaH spoke, we do and we will obey'” (Exodus 24:7).
Twice they acclaimed they would do what YaHVaH said and then said they would obey. Of course, they did not. YaHVaH called Mosheh back up upon the Mount to commune with him for 40 days and to give him the Tablets of Testimony. While he was away, Yisrael made the golden calf. They had just been told not to make such an idol less than a month and a half ago.
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