Thank you for the question of the distinctive of Exodus 20 in comparison to other books in the Old Testament, “What is the distinction of Exodus chapter 20 among other books in Exodus Ace?”
For one’s consideration of the distinctiveness of Exodus, I suggest the following for one’s consideration:
A. Exodus 20 is the only time in Israel’s history that ALL the people heard the voice of God and not a recitation of the Ten Commandments.
Deuteronomy 5 says this to the new generation of the Jewish people who were about to enter the Promised Land, “These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are from the New International Version.
Mount Sinai is the only place that I know of that ALL the Jewish people the voice of God giving the Ten Commandments to them. There are other citations that some individuals heard the voice of God but not everyone heard that voice.
B. Exodus 20 is the only full text that the LORD God spoke to Moses and the people. In other words, all other citations of Exodus 20 is a near perfect citation or summary of Exodus 20.
As one compares Exodus 20:2–17 to Deuteronomy 5:6–21, the passages are nearly a perfect quote but there are slight differences between the two text. Moses is recalling, reciting, and reminding the new generation of Jews to obey the commands of God as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. I will allow the reader to do a study between the two passages to see the similarities and differences instead of me citing it It is more self-discovery and learning of the Biblical text.
The Prophets both Major and Minor prophets cite or allude to portions of the Ten Commandments in their messages to the Jewish people. No where else in the Old Testament beside Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 where the Ten Commandment is fully cited.
C. Exodus 20 states that the Ten Commandments were given to test the people to see if they would reverently obey him.
Exodus 20 says this, “Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning” (NIV).
That generation held a reverential fear of God for the most part despite their disobedience in not trusting the LORD God to enable them to conquer the Promised Land. If one doesn’t have the fear of God within oneself, then the commands of God will be seen as an unnecessary burden or unnecessary at all. Throughout most of the Old Testament, the reverential fear of God was missing in the Jewish people despite the warning of disciplines and judgments as the curses. It was only that generation that had a high view of God while all other generations for the most part had a lower or diminished view of God.
Are there other distinctiveness of Exodus 20 to the rest of the Old Testament? I am sure there are but the three are the ones that I list for one’s consideration. It is astonishing to think in less than one generation, the reverence of God is diminished or lost unless each generation have a divine encounter with God. Christians must ask themselves whether they uphold the commands out of reverence for God or just out of duty for God. That’s the challenge even for our generation.
SUMMARY: Exodus 20 is the only chapter which records a whole generation of people who heard the voice of God in the Old Testament.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-distinction-of-Exodus-chapter-20-among-other-books-in-Exodus-Ace