Final answer:
The covenant at Sinai was ratified through the receipt of stone tablets by Moses inscribed with God's commandments and the Hebrew people's commitment to follow these commandments, both of which constituted their acceptance of the covenant and its terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The covenant at Sinai, described in the Hebrew Bible, was ratified in two distinct ways. First, Moses received the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, which represented a physical testament to the agreement between God and the Hebrew people. The tablets, according to the scriptures, were inscribed by God Himself, denoting a divine seal on the covenant.
Secondly, the Hebrew people agreed to follow the commandments laid out by God, which included rules of behavior and devotion to Yahweh. Their commitment to these rules was a sign of their acceptance of the covenant, which promised them prosperity in the promised land.
This ratification can be seen as a twofold process involving both a divine initiative, through the delivery of the tablets, and a human response, through the commitment to abide by the guidelines provided. This event is pivotal in the religious history of Judaism and has been a point of reference for various later historical agreements, such as the Camp David Accords which also sought peace and mutual recognition.