Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Kings 25:13

"And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon." — 2 Kings 25:13 (ASV)

The pillars of brass ... - All the more precious treasures had already been removed from the temple (2 Kings 24:13). However, many things still remained, a list of which is given in Jeremiah 52:17–23 much more fully than in this passage.

Objects made of brass, or rather bronze, were frequently carried off by the Assyrians from the nations they conquered. Bronze was highly valued, as it was the primary material for both weapons and tools. The fact that the pillars, bases, and other items were broken up shows that they were valued for their material and not for their craftsmanship. For more on these various articles, consult the marginal references.