bordering the territory of Issachar
Issachar, another son of Jacob and Leah, was known for its agricultural prosperity and wisdom, as indicated in Genesis 49:14-15. The proximity of Zebulun to Issachar in this allocation may symbolize cooperation and mutual support between the tribes, reflecting the unity and harmony expected in the restored Israel. This arrangement also mirrors the historical settlement patterns during the initial conquest of Canaan, as described in the Book of Joshua.

from east to west
The phrase "from east to west" indicates the orientation and extent of the tribal allotment, suggesting a horizontal division across the land. This east-west orientation is consistent with the layout of the land divisions in Ezekiel's vision, emphasizing order and symmetry in the distribution of the land. It also reflects the comprehensive nature of God's plan for His people, encompassing all directions and ensuring that each tribe receives its rightful inheritance. This phrase underscores the fulfillment of God's covenant promises and the establishment of a new order in the eschatological vision of Israel's future.

• Zebulun is the sixth son of Leah and Jacob (Genesis 30:20) and head of the tribe that bears his name.

• Earlier prophecies already linked Zebulun to land near the sea—“Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a haven for ships” (Genesis 49:13). Moses later blessed the tribe alongside Issachar in their shared joy and prosperity (Deuteronomy 33:18-19).

• In Joshua 19:10-16 the first historical allotment placed Zebulun in central Galilee. Ezekiel 48 looks ahead to a future, re-ordered distribution for the restored nation, yet maintains Zebulun’s identity and inheritance.

• Ezekiel 48 divides the land into equal “portions” (Ezekiel 48:1-7). Unlike the original conquest, where size varied, the millennial allotment stresses fairness and unity.

• Each tribe, whether large like Judah or smaller like Zebulun, receives exactly “one portion,” underscoring God’s impartial covenant faithfulness (Acts 10:34-35; James 1:17).

• For believers, this foreshadows the equal standing every saint enjoys in Christ’s kingdom (Galatians 3:28).

• Ezekiel lists Issachar immediately south of Zebulun (Ezekiel 48:25-26). The two tribes were paired in Moses’ blessing and often cooperated in Israel’s history (Judges 5:15; 1 Chronicles 12:32-33).

• Their future adjacency highlights continued fellowship and complementary callings—Issachar known for discernment, Zebulun for commerce (Genesis 49:13-15).

• God intentionally places complementary gifts side by side, both in Israel’s geography and in the church’s community life (1 Peter 4:10).

• “From east to west” mirrors the description given for every tribal strip in this chapter (Ezekiel 48:8-29). Each runs the full width of the land, touching both the Jordan Valley in the east and the Mediterranean in the west.

• The phrase underscores stability and wholeness—no tribe is hemmed in or marginalized.

• Geographically, it places Zebulun’s future territory above Issachar’s and below Gad’s, forming a neat, ordered band across the map. Spiritually, it pictures the breadth of God’s promises stretching “from the rising of the sun to its setting” (Psalm 113:3).

Ezekiel 48:26 promises that in the coming restored kingdom, the tribe of Zebulun will receive a fair, clearly defined strip of land—“one portion”—that runs the full east-west breadth of Israel and sits right above Issachar’s territory. The verse reassures us of God’s meticulous faithfulness: every covenant tribe, and every believer, is remembered, placed, and provided for in His perfect order.

Parallel Commentaries ...