2 Kings 19:23-24

19:23 Through your messengers you taunted the sovereign master, ¹ 

‘With my many chariots ² 

I climbed up the high mountains,

the slopes of Lebanon.

I cut down its tall cedars,

and its best evergreens.

I invaded its most remote regions, ³ 

its thickest woods.

19:24 I dug wells and drank

water in foreign lands. ⁴ 

With the soles of my feet I dried up

all the rivers of Egypt.’

¹ tn The word is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai), “lord,” but some Hebrew mss have יְהוָה (yehvah), “Lord.”

² tc The consonantal text (Kethib) has בְּרֶכֶב (bÿrekhev), but this must be dittographic (note the following רִכְבִּי [rikhbi], “my chariots”). The marginal reading (Qere) בְּרֹב (bÿrov), “with many,” is supported by many Hebrew mss and ancient versions, as well as the parallel passage in Isa 37:24.

³ tn Heb “the lodging place of its extremity.”

⁴ tn Heb “I dug and drank foreign waters.”