Moses relayed to the people all the words and ordinances the LORD had spoken, and the people responded with unanimous agreement, pledging to obey everything God had commanded. Moses then wrote down all the LORD's words and rose early the next morning to build an altar at the foot of Mount Sinai, along with twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He sent young Israelite men to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice oxen as peace offerings to the LORD.

Moses took half of the blood from the sacrifices and put it in basins, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. He then read the book of the covenant aloud to the people, who again affirmed their commitment to obey all that the LORD had spoken. Moses sprinkled blood on the people, declaring it the blood of the covenant that God had made with them based on all these words.

Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel then ascended the mountain, where they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, as clear as the sky itself. God did not strike down these leaders of Israel — they saw Him, and they ate and drank together in His presence.

Afterward, the LORD called Moses to come up higher on the mountain to receive the stone tablets on which God had written the law and commandments. Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, instructing the elders to wait and to refer any disputes to Aaron and Hur in his absence. As Moses went up, a cloud covered the mountain, and the glory of the LORD settled upon Mount Sinai for six days. On the seventh day, the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.

To the Israelites watching below, the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire blazing on top of the mountain. Moses entered the cloud and went up the mountain, where he stayed for forty days and forty nights.