Final answer:
Israelites' writings during the Babylonian conquest and exile were crucial as they marked a significant transition in their religious beliefs, preserved Hebrew culture, and solidified monotheism and the narrative of Yahweh's covenant with His people, forming the core of the Hebrew Bible.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 587 BCE, the Babylonian empire conquered the land of the Israelites, Canaan. The Israelites' writings were significantly important at this time because they represented a critical transformation in their religious and cultural identity. The destruction of the temple and subsequent exile caused a shift in the Hebrew monotheism, wherein Yahweh was no longer seen as a deity tied to a single temple or location but as one that was boundless and omnipresent throughout the ordeals faced by the people.
The sacred writings compiled during and after the events of 587 BCE held great historical relevance as they documented the covenant between Yahweh and His people and the belief that deviations from this covenant invited punishment, such as foreign invasions and enslavement. These documents, edited and assembled during the exile, would eventually form the core portion of the Hebrew Bible.
During the Babylonian exile, a focus on cultural and religious revival led to the retention of Judean culture among some of the exiles. This period also witnessed the compilation of various Hebrew writings into a larger corpus, solidifying the narrative of the Israelites and Yahweh's guidance and tenets. The compilation of these texts served as a key element in the survival of Hebrew culture and religious practices during and after their displacement.