2 Kings 18:16

16 At that time did Hizkiyahu cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of the LORD, and [from] the pillars which Hizkiyahu king of Yehudah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Ashshur.

2 Kings 18:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 18:16

At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of
the temple of the Lord
The plates of gold with which they were covered; or scraped off the gold from them, as the Targum interprets it:

and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid:
or the posts, as the Targum, the lintel or side posts of the doors of the temple; which though covered in Solomon's time, the gold was worn off, or had been taken off by Ahaz, but was renewed by Hezekiah; and who, in this time of distress, thought he might take it off again, no doubt with a full purpose to replace it, when he should be able. This is one of the three things the Talmudic writers F19 disapprove of in Hezekiah:

and gave it to the king of Assyria;
to make up the thirty talents of gold he demanded.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 10. 2.

2 Kings 18:16 In-Context

14 Hizkiyahu king of Yehudah sent to the king of Ashshur to Lakhish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which you put on me will I bear. The king of Ashshur appointed to Hizkiyahu king of Yehudah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15 Hizkiyahu gave [him] all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.
16 At that time did Hizkiyahu cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of the LORD, and [from] the pillars which Hizkiyahu king of Yehudah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Ashshur.
17 The king of Ashshur sent Tartan and Rav-Saris and Ravshakeh from Lakhish to king Hizkiyahu with a great army to Yerushalayim. They went up and came to Yerushalayim. When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Elyakim the son of Hilkiyah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the Sofer, and Yo'ach the son of Asaf the recorder.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.