The command to love your neighbour is found in Leviticus 19:18. Leviticus 19:33–34 expands this command to include those who join the people of God having been born outside of the covenant community (Deuteronomy 1:16; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 27:19). 1 The command to hate an enemy is an inference drawn from Deuteronomy 7:2, Deuteronomy 23:3–7, Deuteronomy 25:17–19, and Psalm 139:21–22. 2 Personal enemies within the community of Israel were not to be hated (Exodus 23:4–5; Job 31:29–30; Proverbs 17:5; Proverbs 24:17), only the enemies of God. In the context of the old covenant, the enemies of God were the people who lived in the land of Canaan but refused to worship the Lord (for example, Deuteronomy 7:1–2; Deuteronomy 13:1–18), as well as those outside the land who made plans to kill and destroy God’s people (1 Samuel 11:1–15; 1 Samuel 17:1–58).
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’