What covenant between God and the Hebrews did the Hebrews believe the Ten Commandments reaffirmed?

Answer 1

Well, the first thing to know about your question, is that the term "Hebrews" is considered a derogatory term. Hebrew is a language. "Ancient Israelites" are the people that we read about in the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Old Testament to Christians). Jews today consider themselves to be the direct descendants of the ancient Israelites.

Ancient Israelites considered the Ten Commandments to be only 10 out of 613 commandments given in the first five books of The Bible, which they called the Torah. Although these were considered the most important commandments, because they were written directly by the hand of God Himself, it was important to obey all of the other 603, as well.

When the ancient Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in the year 70 CE, it became impossible to carry out many of these commandments--and this was when the religion that is now known as Judaism was developed.

Answer 2

There are three covenants. Two which God made with Abraham (Genesis ch.15 and Genesis ch.17), and one with Abraham's Israelite descendants in the time of Moses after the Exodus. The third one reaffirmed the earlier two.
1) In Genesis ch.15, the Covenant Between the Parts:
a) God informs Abraham of future events (the Egyptian exile)
b) God promises the land of Canaan (Israel) to Abraham's descendants
c) The covenant is finalized through a demonstration of God's presence (see Genesis 15:7-9 and 15:17).

2) In Genesis ch.17, the covenant of circumcision:
a) The promises of many descendants (17:2,3) and of inheriting the land of Canaan are repeated (17:8), but the main thing in this covenant is the promise that God will be the God of Abraham (17:7, 17:8).
b) God promises that Abraham and Sarah will have a son (17:15-16), whom they will name Isaac (17:19) and who will be the continuation of God's covenant with Abraham (17:21).
c) The covenant itself is manifested through circumcision, for Abraham and his descendants (17:10).

3) The covenant between God and the Israelite nation (see Exodus ch.19 and ch.24), was made in the time of Moses, with Moses serving as the messenger.
This covenant is one of obedience, to listen to God's voice (Exodus 19:5), which will include the entire Torah (24:12). God, for His part, promised to treasure the Israelites (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 26:16-19). The covenant was manifested through God's giving the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.19-20), and was finalized (on our part) through the offerings described in Exodus ch.24.

See also:

What did God promise to the Israelites?

What was the outward sign of the Israelite covenant?

Answer 3

The people thought if they obeyed his laws, God would protect them.

Answer 4

Exodus 20:2 ("I am the Lord your God") is a reaffirmation and continuation of Genesis 17:7 ("to be your God"), which was part of the covenant of Genesis ch.17 between God and Abraham.