About the Ten commandments
The Ten Commandments are divided into two parts:
The first part covers the first four commandments, which defines the duties of humans towards God.
The second part covers the remaining six commandments, which defines the duties of humans towards fellow humans and himself.
The Ten Commandments is the base of the Law of God, which was given to Moses. From the Ten Commandments arise the obligations and regulations contained in the Law of Moses.
During the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai made God the covenant with the People of Israel through the mediation of Moses. This covenant was based on a commitment that all generations of the People of Israel will follow the Ten Commandments, and fulfill all the obligations that arise from the Ten Commandments.
Therefore the Ten Commandments are referred to as the words of covenant in the Books of Moses דּברי הבּרית Divrei habrit and the Torah (Five Books of Moses) is refers to as the book of the covenant ספר הבּרית Sefer habrit.
The Ten Commandments were given by God on two stone plates, on each plate was five commandments, the commandments were engraved on both sides of the plates.
These plates are referred to as the Tables of the Testimony לחת העדת lukhot haedut since they served as the testimony of a covenant between God and the People of Israel.
From the above mentioned facts it is clear that religion is a covenant between God and humans.
The above mentioned statements are supported by the following passages of Holy Scripture:
And he wrote upon the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten words. (2M 34:28)
And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand; tablets that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. (2M 32:15)
And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the hearing of the people; and they said: All that YHWH hath spoken will we do, and obey. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said: Behold the blood of the covenant, which YHWH hath made with you in agreement with all these words. (2M 24:7-8)
Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; but with him that standeth here with us this day before YHWH our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day. (5M 29: 13-14)