Final answer:
The Jews were unique in the Fertile Crescent due to their strict monotheism, the covenant with Yahweh, moral code derived from the Torah, and maintenance of their cultural and religious identity through turbulent times. Differences within the Jewish society, particularly religious interpretations and messianic expectations, also distinguished them from other civilizations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Jews differed from other civilizations in the Fertile Crescent in a number of significant ways. Firstly, by the thirteenth century B.C.E., the Jews became a monotheistic society, uniquely worshipping only one God, Yahweh, and entering a covenant that promised a special relationship. They maintained a distinct identity and moral code from the laws of Moses and abided by practices and dietary restrictions detailed in the Torah, such as not working on the seventh day, ritual slaughter of animals, and prohibitions on eating certain foods like pork and shellfish. Furthermore, Judaism emphasizes moral behavior and collective responsibility over individual salvation.
In contrast to other cultures in the Fertile Crescent, the Jews maintained a continuous though often turbulent relationship with the Levant region. After their Exodus and during periods under Persian, Greek, and Roman rule, they managed to preserve their culture and religious identity, despite rare political independence. Moreover, Jewish society was unique in its internal divisions, such as those between the Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, and Zealots, each with differing interpretations of religious laws and expectations of a messiah.