"Hearsay"

[The following event is fictional and never happened, but if Egypt had been a democracy, it might have.] "What's on the agenda for today?" asked Pharaoh. His chief advisor replied, "There's just a few affairs of state. Oh, and the court must approve your new Secretary of Agriculture." Pharaoh commented, "Well, that shouldn't take long, in light of his credentials." His advisor agreed, "But I hear there is opposition." "Really?" Pharaoh mused. "I must say I'm surprised."

The court convened, and its chairman began the proceedings. After dispensing with a few formalities, he turned to the topic of the man appointed recently to run the Department of Agriculture. "Pharaoh has great confidence in this young man, Joseph, to fill this current vacancy. He asks for your swift approval." A frequent critic of Pharaoh from the wealthy aristocracy of Egypt immediately arose with an objection. The chairman asked, "What possible grounds can you have to object to this appointment?"

The wealthy opponent also was somewhat of an orator who spoke frequently at public events. He answered, "My objection concerns a matter of grave concern. This Joseph has been accused of sexual harassment and attempted rape." So astounded was Pharaoh that he leapt to his feet. "What!" The opponent continued, "Is it true that his last job was that of being a prisoner in one of your jails?" Pharaoh looked at his chief advisor, who continued to stare straight ahead. How had the opponent discovered this information? Pharaoh acknowledged that Joseph had been imprisoned but wrongfully so. "Did he tell you that?" the opponent asked. "The woman in question is the wife of one of Pharaoh's own men—Potiphar's wife. She is willing to testify that he tried to seduce her for well over a year. She claims that he suggested they lie together numerous times and that she repeatedly turned him down because she is a virtuous woman. Finally, he tried to force her; she screamed and grabbed hold of his garment while he fled. Furthermore, she told the whole household about it at the time—and that is the reason he was thrown in prison. We demand that you dismiss this horrible person from consideration for any office and execute him. All of these people are here to testify."

Pharaoh spoke, "These things cannot be true. He is able to interpret dreams with the help of God. Would God help someone with the kind of character you describe?" The opponent responded, "We only have your word that he can do such a thing. We have the testimony of all these witnesses of his corrupt character. Shouldn't we listen to the facts they present, or does your ego prevent you from seeing the truth?" Pharaoh listened to the testimony, but what it boiled down to was the word of Potiphar's wife against Joseph's. The ruler ended the matter by saying, "I am Pharaoh, and I know I am right on this matter. So, if seven years of plenty come upon us, it will prove you wrong. Furthermore, all Egypt will rejoice in this young man's wisdom and preparation for the famine. This court is dismissed." How wise would be the requirement under the Law of Moses of having two or three witnesses to sustain any charge (Deut. 17:6)!