Final answer:
The term Yahweh comes from the Hebrew phrase translated as “I am who I am.” The Yahwist religion initially involved a henotheistic belief system but eventually evolved into Judaism, a monotheistic faith that worships Yahweh as the exclusive god of the Hebrews in accordance with the Covenant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term Yahweh originates from Hebrew characters that translate to “I am who I am,” revealed to Moses as God's name. Initially, the worship of Yahweh was part of a henotheistic faith in the region, acknowledging the existence of other deities while exclusively venerating Yahweh. This Yahwist religion predates Judaism and did not disavow other gods or include all later Jewish rituals.
With the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 BCE, the idea of Yahweh's omnipotence and exclusivity as the god of Hebrews gained strength in Judah. This shift laid the groundwork for the development of monotheism, defining the Hebrews uniquely as people bound by a Covenant to worship Yahweh alone, who in turn promised them a prosperous land. Over time, this evolved into Judaism, characterized by a firm belief in a single, omnipotent God.
Yahweh's importance is shown in the records of early Jewish history, where He allegedly punished those who strayed from the path established by the Covenant, thus shifting towards a conception of a god involved with his chosen people at an individual and a collective level, differentiating Him from the capricious deities of neighboring cultures.