Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
Nevertheless, the dimness (shall) not (be) such as (was) in her vexation - rather, For darkness shall not (continually) be on it (Hebrew, lah; i:e., the land) on which (Hebrew, laasher) there is (now) distress' (Hengstenberg and Maurer). The for refers, not to the words immediately preceding, but to the consolations in Isaiah 8:9-10; Isaiah 8:17-18. Do not despair, for, etc. He reverts, from the more distant future of the evil results of the Jews' rejection of Christ (Isaiah 8:21-22), to the nearer future of the offer of the Saviour first to Galilee.
When at the first ... - rather, 'as the former time has brought contempt on х heeqal (H7043), from qaalal (H7043), brought into light esteem] the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali (namely, the deportation of their iuhabitants under Tiglath-pileser, 2 Kings 15:29, a little before the giving of this prophecy), so shall the after-coming time bring honour to х hibkiyd (H3513), from kaabad (H3513)] the way of the sea (the district round the lake of Galilee), the land beyond (but Hengstenberg, 'by the side of') Jordan (Perea, east of Jordan, belonging to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh), the circle (but Hengstenberg, 'Galilee') - i:e., region-of the Gentiles, (Maurer, Hengstenberg, etc.) Galil in Hebrew is a circle, circuit, and from it came the name Galilee. Galilee included Naphtali and Zebulun. The northern part of Naphtali (which was north of Zebulun) was inhabited by a mixed race of Jews and Gentiles of the bordering Phoenician race (Judges 1:30; 1 Kings 9:11).
Hence, it was called "Galilee of the Gentiles." Besides the recent deportation by Tiglath-pileser, it had been sorely smitten by Benhadad of Syria 200 years before (1 Kings 15:20). It was after the Assyrian deportation colonized with pagans by Esarhaddon (2 Kings 17:24). Hence, arose the contempt for it on the part of the southern Jews of purer blood (John 1:46; John 7:52). The same region, which was so darkened once, shall be among the first to receive Messiah's light (Matthew 4:13; Matthew 4:15-16). It was in despised Galilee that He first and most publicly exercised His ministry; from it were most of His apostles. Foretold in Deuteronomy 33:18-19; Deuteronomy 33:23, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out ... They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness ... O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord." Compare Acts 2:7; Psalms 68:27-28. Jerusalem, the theocratic capital, might readily have known Messiah: to compensate less-favoured Galilee. He ministered mostly there. Galilee's very debasement made it feel its need of a Saviour-a feeling not known to the self-righteous Jews (Matthew 9:13). It was appropriate, too, that He who was "both the Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of His people Israel," should minister chiefly on the border land of Israel, near the Gentiles.