23
Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou shalt be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
24
How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
25
Have I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
26
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah, to Rab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand [it]: and talk not with us in the Jews language in the ears of the people that [are] on the wall.
27
But Rab-shakeh said to them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? [hath he] not [sent me] to the men who sit on the wall, that they may feed on their vilest excretions with you?