2 Kings 18 23

2 Kings 18:23 kjv

Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

2 Kings 18:23 nkjv

Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses?if you are able on your part to put riders on them!

2 Kings 18:23 niv

"?'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!

2 Kings 18:23 esv

Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.

2 Kings 18:23 nlt

"I'll tell you what! Strike a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses if you can find that many men to ride on them!

2 Kings 18 verses

2 Kings 18 23 Meaning

This verse presents a sarcastic challenge from the Assyrian field commander, the Rabshakeh, to King Hezekiah and the people of Judah. He proposes a wager, offering two thousand horses if Hezekiah's forces could even supply riders for them. The statement serves as a potent psychological attack, designed to demoralize Judah by highlighting their perceived military weakness—specifically their lack of cavalry expertise and trained soldiers—when contrasted with Assyria's overwhelming strength and resources. It implies Judah is too poor, unskilled, and poorly led to mount an effective defense, let alone a counter-attack, thereby attempting to erode their trust in their king and their God.

2 Kings 18 23 Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of King Hezekiah's reign in Judah, specifically during the invasion of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, around 701 BC. Following a tribute payment that failed to deter Sennacherib, the Assyrian king sent his army, including three high-ranking officials (the Tartan, the Rabshakeh, and the Rabsaris), from Lachish to besiege Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh, fluent in Hebrew, delivered a powerful and intimidating speech aimed directly at the people on the wall, bypassing official channels. His purpose was to sow doubt, fear, and disunity, urging them to surrender without resistance. This verse is part of his elaborate rhetorical strategy to undermine Hezekiah's authority and Judah's confidence in God, by emphasizing Judah's military inferiority, particularly their lack of effective cavalry, a critical component of ancient warfare where Assyria excelled.

2 Kings 18 23 Word analysis

• Now therefore: A transitional phrase, connecting to the previous points made about Hezekiah's perceived failures and Assyrian superiority, introducing a new, taunting proposition. It heightens the rhetorical force.
• I urge you: From the Hebrew, a persuasive or challenging imperative, presenting the Rabshakeh's offer as a "friendly" proposal, though steeped in mockery. It signals a shift from broad accusations to a direct challenge.
• make a wager: Hebrew: הָבָה־נָּא אֵת וגו׳ (hā-ḇāh-nnāʾ ʾēṯ...). The core word hā-ḇāh means "come now," "give," or "make." It implies a challenge or pledge. It's a boastful proposition, framed as a test, to reveal Judah's inadequacy. This term is an ancient form of putting someone on the spot. It carries a tone of contempt, knowing the outcome before the challenge is made.
• with my master, the king of Assyria: Explicitly identifies Sennacherib, projecting his vast authority and the immense resources of the Assyrian Empire as the power behind the offer, contrasting sharply with Judah's vulnerable position. This reminds the hearers of the overwhelming force confronting them.
• I will give you two thousand horses: An extraordinary and sarcastic offer. Horses were extremely valuable war assets. This number—2000—was immense for an army like Judah's, and likely an exaggeration designed to highlight Assyria's vast material wealth and Judah's poverty. This quantity surpasses Judah's probable total warhorse population.
• if you are able on your part to set riders on them: Hebrew: רֹכְבִים עֲלֵיהֶם (rō-ḵə-ḇîm ‘ălê-hem). "riders upon them." This is the biting part of the taunt. It implies Judah's severe lack of trained cavalrymen. Even if the horses were provided, Judah lacked the specialized, skilled personnel necessary to utilize them effectively. It's a polemic, asserting Judah's profound military weakness, their inability to recruit or train soldiers for effective cavalry operations. This was a critical military deficiency in the ancient world, as cavalry was often decisive.
• "two thousand horses, if you are able... to set riders on them": This phrase group signifies an impossible challenge. It's not just about material lack (horses) but also about human capital (riders)—skills, training, logistics, and personnel—which were essential for an effective army. The Rabshakeh suggests that Judah's deficiencies run so deep that even with the greatest of advantages (free warhorses), they are too weak to exploit it. This also serves as a subtle jab, knowing that King Hezekiah would have known the Mosaic law against kings multiplying horses (Deut 17:16), implying a theological deficiency as well if they accepted such a foreign reliance.

2 Kings 18 23 Bonus section

The Rabshakeh's rhetoric aligns with typical Assyrian propaganda tactics, which prioritized demoralization and inducing surrender before full-scale military engagement to save resources. His public address in Hebrew served to create fear and dissent directly among the populace, bypassing Hezekiah's officials. The Assyrians were masters of cavalry, often incorporating mounted archers and chariots into their devastating military campaigns. Their proficiency with horses contrasts starkly with Israel's historical and theological instruction to not trust in horses or multiply them (Deut 17:16; Isa 31:1), a directive meant to foster dependence on Yahweh, not human or foreign military might. The taunt ultimately serves to set the stage for a grand demonstration of God's power, where human military weakness in Judah paradoxically becomes the arena for divine triumph, overturning all the Rabshakeh's proud declarations based on earthly strength.

2 Kings 18 23 Commentary

The Rabshakeh's taunt in 2 Kings 18:23 is a masterful piece of psychological warfare. His "wager" is not a genuine offer but a deliberate provocation, aimed at exposing Judah's perceived vulnerabilities and demoralizing its populace. By proposing an impossible scenario—offering abundant warhorses but highlighting Judah's inability to provide trained riders—he seeks to underscore their military inadequacy in cavalry, a crucial aspect of ancient warfare where Assyria was superior. This attack on Judah's strength simultaneously functioned as a subtle attack on their faith, subtly suggesting that if their God was truly powerful, they wouldn't be in such a militarily weak state. However, the subsequent divine intervention proves the Rabshakeh's assessment based solely on human might to be fundamentally flawed, illustrating that God's power is not constrained by the limitations of human armies or the lack of cavalry. The true strength of Judah lay not in horses or riders, but in their faithful God who would soon demonstrate His omnipotence against Assyria's boasts.