He said - i. e., God “said.” Both the Septuagint and the Vulgate break this verse into two, so as to make the first half the solemn words of dedication. place a full stop after “forever;” the words mark the distinction between the new and the former sanctuary.
The palace of Solomon abutted upon the southern side of the embankment of the temple-platform; there was but “a wall between Yahweh and them.” When the kings gave themselves up to idolatry, this vicinity was to the temple a pollution and defilement. Thus it has been conjectured that “the garden of Uzza” in which Manasseh and Amon were buried 2Ki 21:18, 2 Kings 21:26, and on which now stands the mosque of Omar, was on the temple area itself; if so, this would explain the mention of “high places” in connection with the defilement by the “carcases of kings,” since the platform of the mosque of Omar at the time of Ezekiel rose to a considerable height above the temple.
Besides this, idolatrous kings of Judah did actually introduce their idolatries into the temple courts themselves (compare 2 Kings 16:11; 2 Kings 21:4).