²³ “ ‘ “Go ahead and make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria. I’ll give you 2,000 horses. But only if you can put riders on them! ²⁴ You are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen. You can’t drive away even the least important officer among my master’s officials. ²⁵ Besides, do you think I’ve come without receiving a message from the Lord? Have I come to attack and destroy this place without a message from him? The Lord himself told me to march out against your country. He told me to destroy it.” ’ ”