(1) On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone left the land of Egypt, on that very day, they entered the wilderness of Sinai.
(2) Having journeyed from Rephidim, they entered the wilderness of Sinai and encamped in the wilderness. Israel encamped there in front of the mountain, [Mount Sinai]
(3) and Moses went up to God. God called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and declare to the children of Israel:
(4) ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.
(5) Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine,
(7) Moses came and summoned the elders of the people and put before them all that the LORD had commanded him.
"וכל העם רואין". קולי קולות ולפידי לפידים. וכמה קולות היו, וכמה לפידים היו? – אלא שהיו משמיעים את האדם לפי כחו, שנאמר (שם) "קול ה' בכח". דבר אחר: להודיע שבחן של ישראל, שכשעמדו כלן לפני הר סיני לקבל את התורה, היו שומעין את הדיבור ומפרשים אותו, שנאמר (דברים לב י) "יסובבנהו יבוננהו", שכיון שהיו שומעין הדיבור – מפרשים אותו. ר' אליעזר אומר: להודיע שבחן של ישראל, שכשעמדו כלן לפני הר סיני לקבל את התורה, לא היה בהם סומין, שנאמר "וכל העם רואין". ומגיד שלא היה בהם אלמים (שמות יט ח) "ויענו כל העם יחדו". ומלמד שלא היה בהן חרשין שנאמר (שמות כד ז) "כל אשר דבר ה' נעשה ונשמע". ומנין שלא היה בהם חגרים? – שנאמר (שמות יט יז) "ויתיצבו בתחתית ההר". ומלמד שלא היה בהם טפשים, שנאמר (דברים ד לה) "אתה הראת לדעת".
"And all the people saw": The sounds of sounds and the flames of flames. How many sounds were there and how many flames were there?
The intent is that each heard according to his power to hear/understand what he experienced.
R. Eliezer says: When they all stood at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, there were no blind ones among them, because it is written, "And all the people saw."
And from where is it derived that there were no people unable to speak among them? From Exodus 19:8 "And all the people answered together."
And from where is it derived that there were no deaf ones among them? From 24:7 "All that the Lord has spoken, we shall do and we shall hear."
And from where is it derived that there were no fools among them? From (Devarim 4:35) "You have been shown to know."
(12) You shall set boundaries for the people around them, saying, ‘Beware of going up the mountain or touching the border of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death:
(13) no hand shall touch it, but they shall be either stoned or shot; beast or human, they shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn [shofar] sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.”
(16) On the third day, as morning dawned, there was thunder, and lightning, and a dense cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the shofar; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
(19) The blare of the shofar grew louder and louder. As Moses spoke, God answered him in thunder.
(23) But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us saying, ‘Set boundaries around the mountain and sanctify it.’”
(24) So the LORD said to him, “Go down, and come back together with Aaron; but let not the priests or the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest God break out against them.”
מגיד שלא היה בהם כח לקבל יותר מעשרת הדברות, שנאמר (דברים ה כב) "אם יוספים אנחנו לשמוע את קול ה' אלקינו עוד ומתנו" אלא "קרב אתה ונשמע".
We are understand that they lacked the strength to receive no more than ten pronouncements, (Devarim 5:22) "If we continue hearing the voice of the Lord our God, we will die," but draw near, and we will hear."
(17) Moses answered the people, “Be not afraid; for God has come only in order to test you, and in order that the fear of God may be ever with you, so that you do not go astray.”
ויחנו במדבר. נתנה תורה דימוס פרהסייא במקום הפקר, שאלו נתנה בארץ ישראל, היו אומרים לאומות העולם אין להם חלק בה, לפיכך נתנה במדבר דימוס פרהסייא במקום הפקר, וכל הרוצה לקבל יבא ויקבל.
"and they encamped in the desert": The Torah was given openly, in a public place. For if it were given in Eretz Yisrael, they could say to the nations of the world: You have no portion in it. But it was given openly, in a public place, and all who want to take it may come and take it.