2 Kings 14:26

KJV

For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, [that it was] very bitter: for [there was] not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

For the LORD {H3068} saw {H7200} the affliction {H6040} of Israel {H3478}, that it was very {H3966} bitter {H4784}: for there was not {H657} any shut up {H6113}, nor any left {H5800}, nor any helper {H5826} for Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For ADONAI saw how bitterly Isra'el had suffered, with no one left, either slave or free, and no one coming to Isra'el's aid.

Berean Standard Bible

For the LORD saw that the affliction of the Israelites, both slave and free, was very bitter. There was no one to help Israel,

American Standard Version

For Jehovah saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter; for there was none shut up nor left at large, neither was there any helper for Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 14:26 vividly portrays the utterly desperate condition of the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II, emphasizing God's profound awareness of their intense suffering and complete lack of internal or external assistance. Despite Israel's persistent idolatry and moral decay, this verse underscores the divine compassion that moved the Lord to act in mercy, preventing the nation's total annihilation and initiating a period of surprising restoration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a crucial theological explanation for the unexpected prosperity and territorial expansion experienced by the Northern Kingdom under King Jeroboam II, as detailed in [2 Kings 14:23-29](/2_kings/14-23-29 "2 Kings 14:23-29 - Jeroboam II's Reign"). Prior to this, Israel had suffered significant oppression, particularly from the Arameans (Syrians), as recounted in earlier chapters like [2 Kings 13:3-7](/2_kings/13-3-7 "2 Kings 13:3-7 - Aramean Oppression of Israel"). The narrative highlights a period of national decline and vulnerability, setting the stage for God's compassionate intervention. The preceding verses in [2 Kings 14](/2_kings/14 "2 Kings 14 - Amaziah and Jeroboam II") describe the reign of Amaziah in Judah and then introduce Jeroboam II's ascension, immediately followed by this verse, which provides the divine rationale for the subsequent, seemingly undeserved, restoration. It contrasts sharply with Israel's spiritual state, which prophets like Amos and Hosea would later condemn, even amidst this material resurgence.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** During the late 9th and early 8th centuries BCE, the Northern Kingdom of Israel faced severe geopolitical pressures. The Aramean kingdom of Damascus, under rulers like Hazael and Ben-Hadad, had significantly weakened Israel, reducing its army and territory, as mentioned in [2 Kings 13:7](/2_kings/13-7 "2 Kings 13:7 - Israel's Diminished Army"). This period was marked by military defeat, economic hardship, and a general sense of national despair. The phrase "not any shut up, nor any left" likely reflects the widespread devastation, indicating that all segments of society, from the most confined (e.g., prisoners, those in fortified cities) to the most exposed (e.g., those in open country), were suffering without relief. Culturally, Israel had largely abandoned the covenant with Yahweh, embracing Baal worship and other idolatrous practices, which would typically invite divine judgment rather than mercy. Yet, it was precisely in this context of profound unworthiness and helplessness that God's compassion manifested.
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme is **Divine Compassion and Active Awareness**. The declaration "For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel" underscores God's intimate knowledge of His people's suffering, echoing His attentiveness to Israel's cries in Egypt ([Exodus 3:7](/exodus/3-7 "Exodus 3:7 - God Hears Israel's Cry")). This theme highlights that God's mercy is not contingent on human merit but flows from His inherent character. A second crucial theme is **Utter Helplessness and Despair**. The vivid description "not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel" paints a picture of a nation at its lowest ebb, completely devoid of internal strength, leadership, or external alliances capable of providing succor. This extreme desolation emphasizes that any subsequent relief could only come from a divine source. Finally, the verse introduces the theme of **God's Preservation and Unmerited Mercy**. Despite Israel's persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, God's intervention through Jeroboam II was an act of pure grace, designed to prevent the complete annihilation of His chosen people, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant promises to preserve a remnant, even when they were undeserving ([Deuteronomy 7:7-8](/deuteronomy/7-7-8 "Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - God's Unconditional Love")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** Derived from the Hebrew root for "to be" or "to exist," this is the proper name of God, revealing Him as the self-existent, eternal, and covenant-keeping God of Israel. His seeing the affliction is not a passive observation but an act of the sovereign, personal God who is intimately involved with His people.
* **Bitter (Hebrew, _mârâh'_):** This word signifies a state of intense pain, grief, or severe distress. It describes the profound and deeply felt suffering of Israel, encompassing not just physical hardship but also emotional anguish and a pervasive sense of misery that permeated the entire nation. It implies a condition that was truly unpleasant and grievous.
* **Shut up, nor any left (Hebrew, _ʻâtsâr v'ʻâzab'_):** This idiomatic phrase is a merism, using two contrasting terms to represent a comprehensive whole. "Shut up" (from `ʻâtsâr`) refers to those confined, restrained, or held back, implying those in secure positions or even prisoners. "Left" (from `ʻâzab`) refers to those abandoned, exposed, or forsaken, often implying the common populace or those without protection. Together, they powerfully convey that "no one at all"—from the most prominent to the most vulnerable, from those in secure positions to those utterly exposed—was able to provide aid or escape the widespread devastation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel":** This opening clause establishes the divine perspective and motivation for the subsequent events. It emphasizes God's active, compassionate observation of His people's suffering. The verb "saw" (Hebrew, _râʼâh_) implies not merely passive observation but a knowing, concerned awareness that leads to action. Despite Israel's spiritual rebellion and idolatry, God's gaze remained upon their plight, highlighting His unwavering covenant faithfulness and inherent mercy.
* **"[that it was] very bitter":** This phrase further intensifies the description of Israel's suffering. The Hebrew term implies a deep, pervasive, and agonizing distress, not just superficial hardship. It describes a national condition marked by profound sorrow, pain, and hopelessness, likely stemming from military defeat, economic devastation, and the loss of life at the hands of their Aramean oppressors. The addition of "very" (Hebrew, _mᵉʼôd_) underscores the extreme intensity of their misery.
* **"for [there was] not any shut up, nor any left":** This clause elaborates on the extent of Israel's helplessness. As discussed in the Key Word Analysis, this merism signifies that no one—from the most prominent to the most humble, from those in secure positions to those utterly exposed—was able to provide aid or relief. It conveys a complete societal breakdown and a total lack of internal resources or leadership to alleviate the crisis. This highlights the pervasive nature of their suffering, affecting every segment of society.
* **"nor any helper for Israel":** This final phrase succinctly summarizes the nation's desperate state. It underscores the absence of any external ally or internal champion who could intervene on Israel's behalf. This absolute helplessness highlights that any forthcoming deliverance would have to be an act of pure divine intervention, demonstrating God's sovereign power and unmerited grace in the face of human inability.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey Israel's dire situation and God's compassionate response. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in "the LORD saw," attributing a human sense (sight) to God to emphasize His active awareness and intimate knowledge of Israel's suffering. This is not merely a passive observation but a concerned gaze that precedes divine action. **Hyperbole** and **Merism** are combined in the phrase "not any shut up, nor any left," which exaggerates the extent of Israel's desolation to emphasize that absolutely no one, from any segment of society, was capable of providing assistance. This vivid imagery underscores the nation's utter helplessness. The repetition of "nor any" (implied in the Hebrew structure) creates a sense of **anaphora** or **parallelism**, reinforcing the pervasive nature of their need and the complete absence of any source of hope or aid within their own capabilities or from external human sources.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates God's sovereign compassion and His commitment to His covenant people, even when they are undeserving. It reveals that God's mercy is not earned but flows from His character and His overarching redemptive plan. Despite Israel's deep-seated idolatry and moral corruption, God "saw" their bitter affliction and acted to preserve them from total destruction, demonstrating His patience and long-suffering. This divine intervention was a delay of deserved judgment, offering another opportunity for repentance, though tragically, Israel would largely fail to seize it. It highlights a recurring biblical pattern: God's faithfulness endures even when His people are unfaithful, ensuring the continuation of His redemptive purposes through a remnant.

* [Exodus 3:7](/exodus/3-7 "God Sees Israel's Affliction in Egypt")
* [Psalm 106:43-45](/psalms/106-43-45 "God's Compassion Despite Rebellion")
* [Lamentations 3:31-33](/lamentations/3-31-33 "The Lord's Compassion Never Fails")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
2 Kings 14:26 offers immense comfort and a powerful challenge for believers today. It assures us that God is not distant or indifferent to our suffering. When our own lives feel "very bitter," when we perceive "no helper," and when we are "shut up" by circumstances or feel "left" alone in our struggles, this verse reminds us that the Lord sees. His gaze is one of compassionate awareness, not condemnation. His intervention may not always manifest in the ways we expect, nor does it imply our deservingness, but it is rooted in His unchanging character of mercy, faithfulness, and sovereign power. This should cultivate a deep trust in His providence, encouraging us to cry out to Him in our helplessness, knowing that He is able to bring relief and restoration even when all human avenues are exhausted. It also challenges us to cultivate a similar compassionate awareness for those around us who are suffering, reflecting God's heart in our own actions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you currently feel "very bitter" or utterly helpless, with "no helper" in sight?**
* **How does the knowledge that "the LORD saw" Israel's affliction impact your perception of God's awareness of your own struggles?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the nature of God's mercy, especially when His people are undeserving?**
* **How might God be calling you to be a "helper" to someone who feels "shut up" or "left" in their own affliction?**

### FAQ
**Does God's intervention here mean He approved of Israel's idolatry under Jeroboam II?**

Answer: No, God's intervention in 2 Kings 14:26 does not signify His approval of Israel's persistent idolatry or the spiritual decline prevalent during Jeroboam II's reign, which is clearly condemned by prophets like Amos and Hosea. Rather, it highlights God's profound compassion and His faithfulness to His covenant promises, despite Israel's unfaithfulness. The text explicitly states that Jeroboam II "did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" and "did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat" ([2 Kings 14:24](/2_kings/14-24 "2 Kings 14:24 - Jeroboam II's Evil Reign")). God's action was an act of unmerited mercy, a delay of deserved judgment, intended to preserve a remnant of His people and prevent their complete annihilation, thereby ensuring the continuation of His redemptive plan for humanity. It demonstrates His long-suffering and His commitment to His covenant, even when His people are disobedient.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate plight of Israel in 2 Kings 14:26, utterly helpless and without a helper, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Israel's cry for a "helper" foreshadows humanity's universal need for a deliverer from the bitter affliction of sin and its consequences, a state where "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")). Just as the Lord "saw" Israel's suffering and sent Jeroboam II as an imperfect, temporary deliverer, so too did God, in His ultimate compassion, "see" the bitter affliction of a fallen world and send His Son, Jesus, as the perfect and eternal Helper. Jesus is the true "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), the one who, when there was "no helper" among humanity capable of redeeming itself, willingly laid down His life ([Romans 5:6-8](/romans/5-6-8 "Romans 5:6-8 - Christ Died for the Ungodly")). He is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to preserve His people, not just physically, but spiritually, offering eternal salvation to all who believe ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). In Christ, the compassionate gaze of God finds its fullest expression, offering not just a delay of judgment but complete redemption and reconciliation with a holy God ([2 Corinthians 5:19](/2_corinthians/5-19 "2 Corinthians 5:19 - God Reconciling the World to Himself")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 32:36

For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that [their] power is gone, and [there is] none shut up, or left.

2 Kings 13:4

And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.

Exodus 3:7

¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

Isaiah 63:9

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Judges 10:16

And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

1 Kings 21:21

Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,

Exodus 3:9

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.