Gospel of Matthew Chapter 4 Vs. 15

 Jesus Begins His Ministry

Matthew 4: 15 “The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;”

The land of... The 7th Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Matthew (Mat. 4:14-16; Isa. 9:1-2). Next, Mat. 8:17.

Isaiah pictures the spiritual darkness of the land when the Messiah comes as less than when God first let the land be judged by Syria under Benhadad in the reign of Baasha (1Kgs. 15:20), and the more grievous invasion by Hazael in Israel (2Kgs. 10:32-33). When the Messiah comes the people who walk in darkness shall see great light (Isa. 9:1-2).

land of Naphtali... Like a doe, would be a free mountain people. Deborah sang of the people of Naphtali risking their lives “on the heights of the field” (Jdg. 5:18). That tribe settled northwest of the Sea of Kinnereth (Galilee).

Borders of Naphtali: from Heleph at a point on the western border northward to Allon, to Zaanannim, to Adami, to Nekeb, to Jabneel, to Lakum, and to Jordan (Jos. 19:33). The southern border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor, to Hukkok, and to Zebulun; the western border was Asher; and the northern border was from Asher to Judah upon the north Jordan

Galilee of the... In Jesus’ time, the region of Galilee had become an important center of Roman occupation. The prophecy cited by Matthew is from (Isa. 9:1-2; 42:6-7).