Isaiah 9:1

1. Nevertheless A transition word from the dark picture of Isaiah 8:5-22, describing the woes from Assyrian predominance to the bright dawn and consummation of the Messianic era.

The dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation It shall not always continue dark where there is now distress.

When at the first Literally, as the former time, namely, the time of the invasion by Assyria, under Tiglath-pileser, which had already taken place as described in 2 Kings 15:29, where we are told that he took “Ijon… and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.” Great contrast between Tiglath-pileser and the Messiah. See note on Matthew 4:15.

He lightly afflicted Rather, he brought contempt upon those regions, Zebulun and Naphtali. These sections were in the pathway of all invasions, Syrian and Assyrian, and so suffered extremely.

Afterward That is, in the later times.

Did more grievously afflict The verb in Hebrew may mean this or the reverse, as brought, or brings honour upon; and the apodosis of the sentence certainly requires the latter. As the former time brought distress, so the later brings glory.

The way of the sea The sea of Galilee; upon the north of which Zebulun and Naphtali abut.

Beyond Jordan And upon the other side of Jordan, also formerly distressed and depopulated.

Galilee of the nations The circuit of the Gentiles, is better. The description here is of the northern parts of Israel bordering on the little sea; which country, after its depopulation by Tiglath-pileser, was colonized by foreigners, forming ever after a mixed people, partly Israelitish, partly heathen, despised by the purer Jews in Judah, but more ready, though imbued more or less with the heathenish spirit, to receive the Messiah when he should come. And this is the honour brought upon them in the aftertime. This mixed people received, for the most part, the Jewish religion; yet during all the ages they were more liberal in thought and more free from bigotry than were the southern Jews.