In response to Oidipous’s invitation to corroborate his supposition that the man approaching is the man he is expecting, the Chorus adds the observation that he was trusted. The emphasis on this characteristic is suggestive because it may explain why Laios and Iokaste chose him for the task of disposing of their unwanted child and also why later Laios chose him to accompany him on his journey to consult the Oracle at Delphi. At the same time, the audience knows full well that this man disobeyed orders to expose the infantm hid from the lone attacker at the crossroads, and then lied about what happened. Twice Laios trusted him with his life and twice the herdsman failed him. On the other hand, his failures to Laios serve the needs of the god, who appears to have made use of this herdsman on more than one occasion, which suggests that he could be made to do whatever the god required of him, whether he was aware of it or not. [Apama] [Apamu] Hence the audience should view him not simply as a mortal witness, but as an instrument of divine will and a mouthpiece for divine communication; humble as his mortal station may be, he approaches as agent and spokesperson for the god. [D]