Yesaya 19:23

19:23 At that time there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will visit Egypt, and the Egyptians will visit Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. ¹ 

Yesaya 27:11

27:11 When its branches get brittle, ²  they break;

women come and use them for kindling. ³ 

For these people lack understanding, ⁴ 

therefore the one who made them has no compassion on them;

the one who formed them has no mercy on them.

[19:23]  ¹ tn The text could be translated, “and Egypt will serve Assyria” (cf. NAB), but subjugation of one nation to the other does not seem to be a theme in vv. 23-25. Rather the nations are viewed as equals before the Lord (v. 25). Therefore it is better to take אֶת (’et) in v. 23b as a preposition, “together with,” rather than the accusative sign. The names of the two countries are understood to refer by metonymy to their respective inhabitants.

[27:11]  ² tn Heb “are dry” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[27:11]  ³ tn Heb “women come [and] light it.” The city is likened to a dead tree with dried up branches that is only good for firewood.

[27:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “for not a people of understanding [is] he.”