וְאֶת־מיסך [מוּסַ֨ךְ] הַשַּׁבָּ֜ת אֲשֶׁר־בָּנ֣וּ בַבַּ֗יִת וְאֶת־מְב֤וֹא הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַֽחִיצ֔וֹנָה הֵסֵ֖ב בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה מִפְּנֵ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃
And the covered place for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he unto the house of the LORD, because of the king of Assyria.
From David to Destruction
We suggest a Peshat explanation based on three words towards the end of Melachim II 16. Melachim II 16:18 states “Ve’Et Mevo HaMelech HaChitzonah Heiseiv Beit Hashem Mipenei Melech Ashur," “[Achaz] routed the king’s outer entrance to go directly to the House of Hashem, out of fear of the king of Assyria.” Simply put, Achaz is rightfully terrified of the emerging Assyrian empire lead by Tiglat Pileser, who is specifically mentioned Melachim II 16.