Exodus 1-2 tells of the oppression of the Hebrews in Egypt and the birth of the future savior Moses. Christian and Jewish interpreters in late antiquity interpreted this text from their own specific perspective, as part of their religious community. They approach the text with partly common, partly different prerequisites, hermeneutics and methods. The religious practice and teaching of one's own religious community are always in the background. This shows processes of reception as well as rejection and demarcation. The Christian interpretation of the Scriptures in particular reveals polemics against Judaism that have continued through the centuries. Nevertheless, there are also numerous points of contact and common motifs that keep recurring - alongside specifically Jewish and Christian traditions. In this way, a multifaceted picture of the biblical text emerges in the patristic and rabbinical interpretation.
