16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off (the gold from) the doors of the temple of Yahweh, and (from) the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Ahaz had already exhausted the treasuries 2-Kings 16:8; Hezekiah was therefore compelled to undo his own work.
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 (s) disapprove of in Hezekiah:
and gave it to the king of Assyria; to make up the thirty talents of gold he demanded.
(s) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 10. 2.
*More commentary available at chapter level.