With the Lord one day is like a thousand years (2 Pet. 3:8). According to this principle, the two days here may signify the first two periods of a thousand years each, counting from A.D. 70, when the Roman prince Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, cruelly killed thousands of Jews, and scattered the Jews among the nations. From that time the Jews have been without king, without prince, without sacrifice, and without the temple, fulfilling Hosea’s prophecy in Hosea 3:4. For two thousand years God has left Israel in a dead condition. After this two thousand-year period, the third thousand years will come. The third day may signify a third period of a thousand years, that is, the millennium, the age of restoration, which will be in the reality of Christ’s resurrection (Rev. 20:6). At that time Israel will be raised up, that is, restored.

Christ was resurrected on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4), and as the pneumatic Christ, the life-giving Spirit, in resurrection (1 Cor. 15:45), He is the reality of the third day (John 11:25). Whenever we contact such a Christ, we are brought from the desolation of the two days to the resurrection of the third day. Cf. note Hab. 3:2^1a.

In His second coming Christ will go forth as the dawn and come to Israel as the late rain that waters the earth. At that time, in the restoration, the millennium (Matt. 19:28), the people of Israel will be the earth watered by Christ as the late rain (cf. Psa. 72:6 and note Psa. 72:6¹). See note Micah 5:2^1b and note Joel 2:23¹.

Another term for the northern kingdom of Israel. So also throughout the book.

According to the Septuagint; the Hebrew text reads, the judgments on you were light that went forth.

In the restoration all the Israelites, including the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, will be very rich in all kinds of produce from the earth. The earth was created by God to produce a rich harvest, but because of the fall of man the earth was cursed to grow thorns, and man has had to labor with sweat for food (Gen. 3:17-19). In the restoration the earth will be restored to its original condition and will be rich, fertile, and productive. Thus, a harvest will be apportioned to Judah for their enjoyment. See note Isa. 30:26¹ and note Joel 3:18¹.