Isaiah 43:17

43:17 the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, ¹ 

together with a mighty army.

They fell down, ²  never to rise again;

they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:

Isaiah 40:26

40:26 Look up at the sky! ³ 

Who created all these heavenly lights? ⁴ 

He is the one who leads out their ranks; ⁵ 

he calls them all by name.

Because of his absolute power and awesome strength,

not one of them is missing.

[43:17]  ¹ tn Heb “led out chariots and horses.” The words “to destruction” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The verse refers to the destruction of the Egyptians at the Red Sea.

[43:17]  ² tn Heb “lay down”; NAB “lie prostrate together”; CEV “lie dead”; NRSV “they lie down.”

[40:26]  ³ tn Heb “Lift on high your eyes and see.”

[40:26]  ⁴ tn The words “heavenly lights” are supplied in the translation for clarification. See the following lines.

[40:26]  ⁵ tn Heb “the one who brings out by number their host.” The stars are here likened to a huge army that the Lord leads out. Perhaps the next line pictures God calling roll. If so, the final line may be indicating that none of them dares “go AWOL.” (“AWOL” is a military acronym for “absent without leave.”)