What was the old servant instructed to do with the baby?

The old servant was instructed to dispose of the baby due to a prophecy that foretold the child would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. This tragic directive stems from King Laius's fear after receiving this oracle, leading to a drastic and horrifying decision to ensure the prophecy could not come to fruition. The servant, tasked with carrying out this order, ultimately could not bring himself to kill the baby and instead gave him to another family, setting in motion the events that lead to Oedipus's fate. This choice reflects the play's central themes of fate, destiny, and the tragic consequences of trying to escape one's prophesied future.