Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 40:19

"The image, a workman hath cast [it], and the goldsmith overlayeth it with gold, and casteth [for it] silver chains." — Isaiah 40:19 (ASV)

The workman melteth ... —The reign of Ahaz, not to speak of that of Manasseh, must have supplied the prophet with his picture of the idol factory not less fully than if he had lived in Babylon or Nineveh.

Spreadeth it over with gold. —The image of lead was covered over, as in the well-known story of Phidias’s “Zeus,” with plates of gold. The “silver chains” fastened it to the wall.