Final answer:
The Hebrews were distinguished by their monotheistic worship of Yahweh, a belief in a special covenant with God, and ethical laws, which contrasted with the polytheistic practices of neighboring cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ideas about religion that distinguished the Hebrews from other peoples in the region was their monotheistic worship of Yahweh. While the Hebrews, like other ancient cultures, initially acknowledged the existence of multiple deities, over time their beliefs evolved into true monotheism—the recognition of only one God. This was a significant departure from the prevalent polytheistic practices in the region. Additionally, the Hebrews believed that Yahweh was not only their sole deity but also deeply concerned with their actions, both as individuals and as a community, which fostered a sense of a special covenant with God. This was in contrast to the more capricious and distant deities of neighboring cultures. The Prophetic Movement, calling for worship exclusively of Yahweh and a return to social egalitarianism, further cemented these distinctions as central to the emerging faith of Judaism.
Judaism's development into a religion with strict monotheism, ethical laws, and a special covenant between Yahweh and the Hebrews became foundational for subsequent Abrahamic religions such as Christianity and Islam, which also revere the concept of a singular, omnipotent deity concerned with morality and actions of humans.