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)
The Assyrian envoy was endeavoring to ridicule Judah’s lack of military strength. The Assyrians had come up with a large force of cavalry, and 2,000 horses would mean nothing to them. They would be given to Judah if Judah on its part could provide that number of trained horsemen.