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.
But the darkness and suffering won't last forever like it did during those troubled times. At first, God brought light punishment to the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, but later he brought much heavier suffering to the region by the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where many nations lived.
The writer is promising that the darkness and suffering God's people are experiencing will not be permanent, even though they've already endured both lighter and heavier punishments in the northern regions of Israel.
📚 Historical Context
This prophecy refers to the Assyrian invasions of northern Israel, particularly the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, which occurred in stages during the 8th century BC. The 'lighter affliction' likely refers to earlier Assyrian campaigns, while the 'heavier affliction' refers to the final conquest when these northern territories were completely devastated and their people exiled. This verse serves as a transition from judgment to the promise of restoration and the coming Messiah.
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