The Ten Commandments wer much more than governmental laws: they established a Pact between the Most High and the people, through obedience. Each Commandment made clear what His will was. Therefore, whoever wanted to please Him had to be aware that tthey needed to obey Him.

This was a matter of choice.

That is, the children of Israel were free to make a decision: to honor and obey the One who took them out of Egypt or disobey and break the Covenant made with Him. Freedom makes us responsible for our own choices