Commentaries:
Isaiah wrote after the fall of Israel to Assyria. The Assyrians' attack on the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, in the northern part of Israel, came in two waves. The first "distress" resulted in the deportation of some Israelites. The second oppression was much heavier, resulting in the deportation of virtually everyone. Then, the Assyrians imported Gentile peoples to the area of Zebulon and Naphtali, the area of Galilee. Their descendents—the Samaritans—heavily populated Galilee in Christ's day.
Charles Whitaker
Peter's Trumpets Message—on Pentecost
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Isaiah 8:20:
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
Deuteronomy 18:15-18
Matthew 24:12-13
John 4:23-24