Rabbi Phineas taught that it was on the eve of the Sabbath that the Israelites stood at Mount Sinai, arranged with the men apart and the women apart. God told Moses to ask the women whether they wished to receive the Torah. Moses asked the women first, because the way of men is to follow the opinion of women, as reflects when it says, "Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob" — these are the women — and only thereafter does say, "And tell the children of Israel" — these are the men. They all replied as with one voice, in the words of "All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and be obedient."