Verses 3-8 are not clearly related to verses 1-2 and follow more naturally after 23.33. Moses came is literally “Moses entered,” for the Hebrew does not distinguish between came and “went” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version, Revised English Bible). (See the discussion of this word at 1.1.) The people, of course, were at the foot of the mountain, but the context does not clearly indicate where Moses was. One may say “Moses approached the people and told them.” However, in languages that require directional verbs, one may say, for example, “Moses went [going away] and approached the people.” The word for told literally means “to count,” or “to check off.” So Fox and Durham have “Moses came and recounted….” Revised English Bible has “Moses went and repeated….”

All the words of the LORD does not refer to what Yahweh had said in verses 1-2. More specifically all the words refers to the Ten Commandments in 20.1-17, and all the ordinances refers to the laws in the Book of the Covenant, 20.22–23.33. The word for words (devarim) is used in 34.28 for “the ten commandments,” and the word for ordinances (mishpatim) is used in 21.1 to introduce the “Book of the Covenant.” Good News Translation translates them as “commands” and “ordinances,” while New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh calls them “commands” and “rules.” Contemporary English Version does not make any distinction between these two terms: “gave the LORD’s instructions to the people.” (See the introduction to 20.22-26.)

And all the people answered with one voice does not mean necessarily that they all spoke the same words in unison, although this may be what is implied. The important thing is that they all responded at the same time. With one voice is literally “one sound.” (See the discussion on “sound” and “thunder” at 19.19.) And said introduces the words that the people spoke. All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do is similar to 19.8 and suggests a kind of formula, or a prepared response. (See also verse 7.) Here, however, All the words (devarim) includes “everything that the LORD has said” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version has “We will do everything the LORD has commanded.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .