²³ “‘Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them! ²⁴ How can you repulse one officer^(A) of the least of my master’s officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen^[a]? ²⁵ Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the Lord?^(B) The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.’”