The most profound difference between the God of ancient Hebrews and other gods of pagan religions in the Middle East was the God of ancient Hebrews was considered an ethical monotheist. Monotheism is the belief in one god, whereas pagan religions often involved polytheism (belief in many gods) or henotheism (the belief in one main god but also the acceptance of other gods). Ethical monotheism is the understanding that there is one God who is ethically good and requires His followers to live ethically good lives. This contrasts with the gods of many other religions who were often portrayed as immoral and capricious, and did not place a strong emphasis on ethical behavior by their followers.
Here are some specific ways in which the God of ancient Hebrews was distinct from the gods of other pagan religions:
Exclusivity: The God of the ancient Hebrews was considered the one and only true God, and He demanded exclusive worship from His followers. This contrasted with the gods of many other religions who were often seen as one among many gods, and it was not uncommon for people to worship multiple gods.
Morality: The God of the ancient Hebrews placed a strong emphasis on morality and ethical behavior. He required His followers to follow a moral code that included compassion, justice and faithfulness. This was in contrast to many pagan gods who were not associated with any particular moral code.
Covenant Relationship: The God of the ancient Hebrews established a covenant relationship with His chosen people, the Israelites. This covenant was based on God's promise to bless the Israelites and to be their God, in exchange for their faithfulness and obedience to his commandments. This type of covenant relationship was unique to the God of the ancient Hebrews.
Historical Activity: The God of ancient Hebrews was seen as an active force in history, intervening in the lives of individuals and nations to bring about His purposes. This was in contrast to many pagan gods who were seen as distant and removed from human affairs.
Prophecy: The God of ancient Hebrews communicated with His people through prophets who spoke on His behalf. This allowed the people to know His will and the direction He wanted them to take. Prophecy was not a significant feature of many other pagan religions.
In summary, the God of ancient Hebrews was distinct from the gods of other pagan religions, because He was considered an ethical monotheist. This meant that He alone was the true God, He required exclusive worship, He placed a strong emphasis on morality, and He established a covenant relationship with his people, intervened in history, and communicated through prophets.