henotheism

It marks the highest point to which the Hebrew race attained in its progress from henotheism to monotheism.

In other words, the ordinary Israelite worshipper of Yahweh was at this time far removed from monotheism, and still remained in the preliminary stage of henotheism, which regarded Yahweh as sole god of Israel and Israel’s land, but at the same time recognized the existence and power of the deities of other lands and peoples.

Henotheism, hen′ō-thē-izm, n. the ascribing of supreme power to some one of several gods in turn: the belief in a special supreme god over a particular people—a national or relative monotheism.—adj.

Pettinato theorizes that the Eblaites evolved from polytheism into henotheism, the worship of a supreme creator-god within the pantheon.

Probably it is the aspect of national monotheism, or henotheism, as it should more accurately be called, which impresses so many, whereas this feature was an historical accident.