What is the importance of the Ten commandments?

The 10 commandments are a set of rules set by God. He made the 10 commandments because the Israelite were disobeying God and breaking the rules. God called Moses up into a mountain and when he came down the Israelite were dancing with a golden calf they worshiped as God. Moses was angry and broke the calf.

God's covenant was that He will lead the Hebrews out of Egypt and to land. If the Hebrew were messing about and did not follow what God said then God will not have his people.