The Gospel of Matthew quotes these verses as an introduction to the great Galilean period of the Savior’s ministry. This period was the first and possibly the most successful of the various parts of the Savior’s ministry (as usually designated in New Testament studies). When the land of Canaan was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali lay to the west of the Sea of Galilee and formed the northern border of Israel next to the gentile nations of Galilee. The phrase “way of the sea” has puzzled many scholars, but the Book of Mormon has retained the identity of this body of water as the Red Sea. The king of Assyria took “all the land of Naphtali and carried them captive into Assyria” during Isaiah’s lifetime (2 Kings 15:29). The phrase “afterwards did more grievously afflict by the way of the Red Sea beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations,” probably has reference to a later invasion by Assyria. Matthew noted that although Israel had lost blessings due to wickedness and subsequent subjection to Assyria, the blessings would come again through the “light” of Christ as he ministered unto Judah in Galilee.