ISB ~ Matthew 4 v15 - 16

The land of Zebulun … dawned:A citation I from Is 9:1-2 concerning the land allotments of two Israelite tribes, Zebulun and Naphtali. Since these Galilean regions were the first to be ravaged by Assyrian invasions from 733 to 732 B.C. (2 Kings 15:29), Jesus targets Galilee as the place to begin reversing the tragedies of Israel’s history by restoring the 12 tribes in the New Covenant (cf. 15:24; 19:28; Rev 7:4-8).

• Isaiah foresees a “latter time” (Is 9:1), when God will restore hope to Galilee. Matthew links this with Jesus’ residence in “Capernaum” (4:13), a town north of the Sea of Galilee where the tribal territories of Zebulun and Naphtali intersect. Matthew’s sustained interest in the Davidic kingship of Jesus suggests that the fuller context of this oracle is also significant. Isaiah 9:1-2 prefaces an Immanuel prophecy of the birth of a new king who will sit “upon the throne of David” (Is 9:7) and restore this light of hope to Galilee (cf. Lk 1:32-33).