וא"ר יהושע בן לוי בשעה שעלה משה למרום אמרו מלאכי השרת לפני הקב"ה רבש"ע מה לילוד אשה בינינו אמר להן לקבל תורה בא אמרו לפניו חמודה גנוזה שגנוזה לך תשע מאות ושבעים וארבעה דורות קודם שנברא העולם אתה מבקש ליתנה לבשר ודם (תהלים ח, ה) מה אנוש כי תזכרנו ובן אדם כי תפקדנו ה' אדונינו מה אדיר שמך בכל הארץ אשר תנה הודך על השמים אמר לו הקב"ה למשה החזיר להן תשובה אמר לפניו רבש"ע מתיירא אני שמא ישרפוני בהבל שבפיהם אמר לו אחוז בכסא כבודי וחזור להן תשובה שנאמר (איוב כו, ט) מאחז פני כסא פרשז עליו עננו ואמר ר' נחום מלמד שפירש שדי מזיו שכינתו ועננו עליו אמר לפניו רבונו של עולם תורה שאתה נותן לי מה כתיב בה (שמות כ, ב) אנכי ה' אלהיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים אמר להן למצרים ירדתם לפרעה השתעבדתם תורה למה תהא לכם שוב מה כתיב בה לא יהיה לך אלהים אחרים בין עמים אתם שרויין שעובדין
R. Yehoshua ben Levi also said: When Moses ascended on high, the ministering angels spoke before the Holy One, blessed be He; "Sovereign of the Universe! What business has one born of woman among us?" "He has come to receive the Torah," answered God. The angels replied, "That secret treasure, which has been hidden by You for nine hundred and seventy-four generations before the world was created? You desire to give to flesh and blood!? What is a mortal that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You recall him? O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name throughout all the earth, You who covered (hod'kha) the heavens with Your splendor!" (Ps 8:5,2)
God said to Moses, "Reply to them with an answer." Moses said before Him, "Sovereign of the Universe, I am afraid they might incinerate me with their breath." He said to him, "Hold onto My throne of glory and reply to them with an answer." (proof texts that the throne protects)
He said to Him, "Sovereign of the Universe, Torah that you give me, what is written in it?" "'I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt (Ex 20:2).'" Moses said to them, "Did you go down to Egypt? Were you ensalved to Pharaoh? Why should you get Torah?" [Moses:] "What else is written in it?" "'You shall have no other gods (Ex 20:3).'" [Moses:] "Do you live among nations of idolators?
עבודת גלולים שוב מה כתיב בה זכור את יום השבת לקדשו כלום אתם עושים מלאכה שאתם צריכין שבות שוב מה כתיב בה לא תשא משא ומתן יש ביניכם שוב מה כתיב בה כבד את אביך ואת אמך אב ואם יש לכם שוב מה כתיב בה לא תרצח לא תנאף לא תגנוב קנאה יש ביניכם יצר הרע יש ביניכם מיד הודו לו להקב"ה שנאמר (תהלים ח, ב) ה' אדונינו מה אדיר שמך וגו' ואילו תנה הודך על השמים לא כתיב
What else is written in it?" "'Remember the day of Shabbat to keep it holy (Ex 20:8).'" [Moses:] "You don't do any creative labor, so what do you need with rest? What else is written in it?" "'You shall not swear (tisa) [falsely by God's name] (Ex 20:7).'" [Moses:] "Is there business (masa) conducted among you? What else is written in it?" "'Honor your father and your mother (Ex 20:12).'" [Moses:] "Do any of you have a father or mother? What else is written in it?" "'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal (Ex 20:13-15).'" [Moses:] "Is there jealousy among you? Is the evil impulse among you?"
Immediately they conceded/acknowledged/
thanked (hodu) the Holy One, as it says, O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth (Ps 8:10), while You who covered the heavens with Your splendor is not written [in this verse as it was in verse 2].
Rabbi Azariah and Rabbi Acha said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: When, at Mount Sinai, the Israelites heard the word “Anochi” (“I” — the first word of “The Ten Words”), their souls left them, as it says [Devarim 5:22]: “If we hear the voice of God any more, we will die.” It is also written [Shir HaShirim 5:6]: “My soul departed when He spoke.” Then the Word went back to the Holy One blessed be He and said:”Lord of the Universe, You live eternally and Your Torah lives eternally, but You have sent me to the dead. They are all dead!” Thereupon, the Holy One blessed be He sweetened the Word for them….Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai taught: The Torah that God gave to Israel restored their souls to them, as it says [Tehillim 19:8]: “The Torah of the Lord is perfect, it restores the soul”
And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: With every word which went forth from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He, the souls of Israel departed, for it is said, “My soul went forth when He spoke” (Shir HaShirim [Song of Songs] 5:6). But since their souls departed at the first commandment, how could they receive the second? – He brought down the dew with which He will resurrect the dead, and He revived them…
“Said Rabbi Abahu....in the name of Rabbi Yochanan...When the Holy Blessed One gave the Torah, no bird chirped, no fowl fluttered, no ox lowed, the angels did not fly, the Seraphim did not utter the Kedusha, the sea did not roar, the creatures did not speak; the universe was silent and mute. And the voice came forth “Anochi Adonai Elohecha” (I am the Infinite, your God).—Shmot Rabba 29-7
"When the israelites said “we want to see him” the holy and blessed one responded “I also desire to see you” as the male lover responds to his beloved “let me see your face” (Song of Songs).
When Israel stood at Mount Sinai they said to Moses
“Did you see him?”
He answered “Yes”.
They said we want to hear his voice as it says, “let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth” (Song of Songs).
Immediately the holy and blessed one revealed himself to them and said “I am your God” as soon as they heard God’s voice they all died-- as it “says my soul went out when he spoke.” (Song of Songs).