Exodus 19:7-9

"And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him. And all the people answered and said, All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and also believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto Jehovah."

One clear purpose of God was to surround the giving of the Law with such circumstances of glory and wonder that there could never afterward be any doubt whatever that God did indeed speak to them on that occasion. One need not be perplexed by the repetition of certain phrases in this account. This was not only after the custom of ancient writings, but this record of the giving of the First Covenant was presented in a form following the pattern of ancient covenant's in the period around 1500 B.C. This also accounts for Israel's acceptance in advance of all the terms of the covenant and their pledge to obey them. "This was a required preliminary to the giving of any covenant at all."[18]