13 And the pillars of brass that 'are' in the house of Jehovah, and the bases, and the sea of brass, that 'is' in the house of Jehovah, have the Chaldeans broken in pieces, and bear away their brass to Babylon. 14 And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they minister they have taken, 15 and the fire-pans, and the bowls that 'are' wholly of silver, hath the chief of the executioners taken. 16 The two pillars, the one sea, and the bases that Solomon made for the house of Jehovah, there was no weighing of the brass of all these vessels; 17 eighteen cubits 'is' the height of the one pillar, and the chapiter on it 'is' of brass, and the height of the chapiter 'is' three cubits, and the net and the pomegranates 'are' on the chapiter round about—the whole 'is' of brass; and like these hath the second pillar, with the net.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 25:13-17
Commentary on 2 Kings 25:8-21
(Read 2 Kings 25:8-21)
The city and temple were burnt, and, it is probable, the ark in it. By this, God showed how little he cares for the outward pomp of his worship, when the life and power of religion are neglected. The walls of Jerusalem were thrown down, and the people carried captive to Babylon. The vessels of the temple were carried away. When the things signified were sinned away, what should the signs stand there for? It was righteous with God to deprive those of the benefit of his worship, who had preferred false worships before it; those that would have many altars, now shall have none. As the Lord spared not the angels that sinned, as he doomed the whole race of fallen men to the grave, and all unbelievers to hell, and as he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, we need not wonder at any miseries he may bring upon guilty nations, churches, or persons.