Final answer:
The Israelites were distinct in ancient times due to their belief in a single deity, Yahweh, and that everyone, including rulers, was accountable to God's laws. This monotheistic belief system contrasted with other cultures that either deified rulers or saw them as above the law, evolving into modern Judaism over centuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Israelites differed from many ancient peoples primarily due to their worship of a single deity, Yahweh, and their belief that nobody was exempt from God's law, not even their leaders. Unlike other ancient civilizations where leaders could be deified or considered above the law, the Israelites viewed their rulers as subject to the same divine judgment as ordinary individuals. Stories from the Hebrew Bible illustrate that Yahweh would judge everyone justly, including kings like David and Solomon, underscoring that in the eyes of God, all were accountable for their actions.
Furthermore, the development of early Judaism and its transition from henotheism to monotheism was a gradual process. \
Over time, the exclusive worship of Yahweh gained importance, particularly after the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to the Assyrians in 722 BCE, which many of the Hebrews saw as a divine sign against the corruption of the powerful. Hence, the concept of Yahweh as the only god for the Hebrews became central to their beliefs. This culminated in the post-exilic period when the Judeans returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt their temple, creating the basic framework of what is now known as Judaism.