Ezekiel 43:6-9

6-9. The prophet is here addressed by one speaking from within, while “the man” or “a man” probably the man with the measuring reed (Ezekiel 40:3) stood by his side. This voice from the divine glory was that of Jehovah, who addressed the prophet by his well-known title (see note Ezekiel 2:1) and declared, This is the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever, etc. (Compare Isaiah 60:13; Psalms 99:5; Psalms 132:7.) This abiding presence of Jehovah is due to the holiness of his people, who will “no more defile my sacred name with their idolatry and with the corpses of their kings,” etc. Expositors here differ as to whether “kings” refers to the idols which had such dominion over them, or to the bodies of the Hebrew kings or princes which were buried not far from the temple (1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 11:43). But as Ezekiel in no other place indicated that the bones of the kings ought to be removed from their long resting place at the restoration, and as he is constantly using figures of speech fitted to arouse attention and comparison, the former seems to be the better view. The images which they had brought into their places of worship had already been broken down (Ezekiel 6:4-6; Ezekiel 6:13; Ezekiel 8:10; Ezekiel 8:18) and the princes and rulers of Israel had been slain and their carcasses left where they had fallen (Ezekiel 8:16; Ezekiel 9:6-7). Their idolatry and every vestige of such idolatry would now be removed.