Final answer:
The Israelites were historically commanded not to intermarry with or engage in treaties with their enemies, balancing the need to maintain their community with teachings of compassion and love.
Step-by-step explanation:
The people of Israel were commanded not to intermarry or engage in treaties with their enemies, according to religious texts. In the context of Judaism in the 6th Century BCE, the focus was on maintaining the distinctiveness of the Jewish community and following the commandments set forth in the Torah. The historical context also shows a series of battles and conflicts where different rules and strategies were applied, such as offering no mercy to defeated enemies, as stated in Deuteronomy. However, teachings also emphasize concepts of compassion and love, like in Leviticus 19:18 and the sayings of Hillel in Talmud, Shabbat 31a. This complex interplay of war, peace, and commandments influenced the behavior of the Israelites towards their enemies throughout history, including the modern State of Israel's relationships with its neighboring countries.