Sticks and Questions: Uncovering Egyptian Interrogation Techniques

Passover may be behind us, but a reminder of the bondage in Egypt comes from Professor David Falk, who studies ancient Egypt.

How were interrogations conducted in Egypt?

The Israelite officers, in their complaint to Moses, said: "No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks!' and behold, your servants are beaten," (Exodus 5:16). The officers needed to explain shortfalls in the workers' quotas, the Israelites.

Professor Falk notes that this interrogation technique was also used during tomb robbery incidents in the time of Ramesses IX, where those questioned were beaten before being interrogated.

According to the Egyptian mindset, the only way to guarantee a truthful answer was to beat the person before the interrogation. The British Museum Papyrus 10052 (32-21:15) documents some of these interrogations, for instance: "Examination. The foreigner Akhuthoniper, son of Nahak, was brought in. He said, 'I don’t know, I don’t know.' He was examined with the stick and found to be innocent."

Additionally, the Amherst Papyrus (7-6:3) offers insight into the severity of these beatings: "They were examined by stick beating, their feet and hands were twisted. They told the same story."

So, according to Egyptian logic, first the beatings, then the questions, just to soften up the area...

Interestingly, even the Torah mentions the approach of "and behold, your servants are beaten" as a prelude to dialogue between Egyptians and Hebrews.