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

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Isaiah 36:8. It’s a really dramatic statement about power and potential conflict! Here's what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: Isaiah is telling the king of Assyria (a powerful empire located far away) that he needs something – a huge number of horses – from her. He’s essentially offering to give her a massive amount of wealth and power in exchange for this request. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria…” This is a formal command from Isaiah. He’s asking the king to immediately agree to this request. “I pray thee” adds a sense of urgency and importance. “…and I will give thee two thousand horses…” This is the core of the offer. Isaiah is promising to provide a huge number of horses – enough to fill a large field. The number 2000 is significant, suggesting a truly massive amount. “if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.” This is where it gets interesting and a little mysterious. It's asking the king if he can actually manage to put people on those horses. It implies there might be some difficulty or challenge involved. Overall Meaning & Context: This verse is often interpreted as a sign of Assyria’s impending power. It suggests that Assyria, known for its military might, is preparing for a large-scale invasion and conquest of the region. Isaiah is essentially offering a massive reward – a huge army – to the king in exchange for his willingness to allow Assyria to conquer the land. It's important to note: The verse isn’t necessarily about actually giving the king two thousand horses. It’s more symbolic of the immense power and potential threat that Assyria represented. The phrase "set riders upon them" is a way of highlighting the scale of this offer – it's not just about having horses, but having enough to fill a field, signifying a significant military force. In short, Isaiah 36:8 describes a powerful promise and a potential conflict – Assyria’s ambition to conquer the region. --- Do you want me to explain any of these parts in more detail? For example, would you like me to: Discuss the symbolism behind the number 2000? Explain why this verse is often seen as a prophecy about Assyria's rise to power?