2 Kings 6:26

KJV

And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

KJV (with Strong's)

And as the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478} was passing by {H5674} upon the wall {H2346}, there cried {H6817} a woman {H802} unto him, saying {H559}, Help {H3467}, my lord {H113}, O king {H4428}.

Complete Jewish Bible

As the king of Isra'el was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, "Help, my lord, king!"

Berean Standard Bible

As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”

American Standard Version

And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse captures a moment of profound desperation during the severe Aramean siege of Samaria, where the capital city of Israel faced extreme famine. As King Joram inspects the city's defenses from the wall, a woman, driven to the brink of starvation, cries out to him with a raw, urgent plea for help. Her desperate appeal symbolizes the collective agony and futility felt by the besieged populace, setting the stage for the shocking revelations of human suffering and divine intervention that follow.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This poignant verse is situated within the harrowing narrative of the Aramean (Syrian) siege of Samaria, initiated by King Ben-Hadad, as described in [2 Kings 6:24](/2_kings/6-24 "2 Kings 6:24 - The Siege of Samaria Begins"). The preceding verses establish the dire circumstances, detailing the relentless blockade that has led to an unimaginable famine within the city walls. The king's presence "upon the wall" signifies his direct observation of the unfolding catastrophe and his position as the last human resort for his suffering people. Immediately following this desperate cry, the narrative escalates, revealing the horrifying extent of the famine, including instances of cannibalism, as highlighted in [2 Kings 6:28-29](/2_kings/6-28-29 "2 Kings 6:28-29 - Extreme Famine and Cannibalism"), which underscores the severity of the woman's plea and the king's subsequent despair. The king's reaction to this plea, and the subsequent prophetic intervention of Elisha, form the dramatic core of [2 Kings chapter 6](/2_kings/6 "2 Kings Chapter 6 - Elisha's Miracles and the Siege of Samaria") and [chapter 7](/2_kings/7 "2 Kings Chapter 7 - The End of the Siege").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The siege of Samaria by the Arameans was a recurring geopolitical struggle in the ancient Near East, reflecting the constant conflict between Israel and its northern neighbor. Samaria, as the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was a strategic target. Ancient sieges were brutal affairs, designed to starve out the inhabitants, forcing surrender through attrition. The "wall" was the primary defense, and the king's presence there was both a show of solidarity and an assessment of the collapsing defenses. The famine described was not merely hunger but a catastrophic lack of food, pushing people to desperate and morally abhorrent acts, a stark reality of prolonged sieges in that era. The king, as the divinely appointed leader, was expected to provide for and protect his people, making this woman's direct appeal a desperate act born of societal breakdown and the failure of traditional leadership, highlighting the immense pressure on the monarch.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within [2 Kings chapter 6](/2_kings/6 "2 Kings Chapter 6 - Elisha's Miracles and the Siege of Samaria") and the broader book. It vividly portrays **desperation in crisis**, illustrating the ultimate human vulnerability when faced with overwhelming adversity, a theme echoed in other biblical accounts of famine and siege, such as in [Lamentations 4:10](/lamentations/4-10 "Lamentations 4:10 - The Desperation of Famine"). It highlights the immense **burden of leadership** during national calamity, as the king, despite his authority, appears powerless to alleviate the suffering. Furthermore, the woman's cry for "help" subtly introduces the theme of **divine intervention**, foreshadowing the prophetic word of deliverance that Elisha will soon deliver in [2 Kings 7:1](/2_kings/7-1 "2 Kings 7:1 - Elisha Prophesies Abundance"), contrasting human inability with God's ultimate power to save. The scene also underscores the **consequences of disobedience** and the need for repentance, as the famine is implicitly a judgment on Israel's spiritual state, a recurring motif throughout the book of [2 Kings](/2_kings/1 "The Book of 2 Kings").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **cried (Hebrew, _tsâʻaq'_):** This verb (H6817) denotes a loud, urgent, and often desperate cry, typically made in a context of distress, oppression, or a plea for help or justice. It is not a casual shout but an impassioned appeal, emphasizing the woman's extreme suffering and the profound urgency of her situation. Its usage here highlights the depth of her anguish and the immediate need for intervention, often associated with a cry for divine or human rescue.
* **Help (Hebrew, _yâshaʻ'_):** This is an imperative form of the verb (H3467), meaning "to save," "to deliver," or "to rescue." The direct command "Help!" (הוֹשַׁע) is a desperate cry for immediate salvation from a life-threatening situation. It underscores the woman's belief, however faint, that the king possesses the power to intervene and alleviate her suffering, even as the narrative reveals his ultimate inability to provide true deliverance.
* **king (Hebrew, _melek'_):** The term (H4428) refers to the monarch, the supreme ruler. In ancient Israel, the king was seen as God's anointed representative, responsible for the welfare and protection of his people. The woman's address, "my lord, O king," acknowledges his authority and position, yet it also implicitly challenges him to fulfill his duty in a time when his people are literally dying. It highlights the immense pressure and the ultimate human limitations of even the highest earthly authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall":** This clause sets the scene, placing King Joram in a position of observation and authority, surveying the besieged city. His presence on the wall indicates his direct awareness of the dire circumstances and his proximity to the suffering of his people, making him an immediate target for their pleas. It also subtly suggests his own helplessness, as he is merely "passing by," unable to offer a solution.
* **"there cried a woman unto him":** This introduces the desperate individual, a nameless woman who represents the collective agony of the besieged population. Her act of crying out directly to the king signifies the extremity of the situation and the breakdown of normal societal structures, where formal channels of appeal have likely failed. It is a bold, public act born of utter desperation.
* **"saying, Help, my lord, O king.":** This is the direct, urgent, and deferential plea. The repetition of "king" emphasizes his position of power and the woman's desperate hope that he can provide the salvation she needs. It is a cry for immediate physical deliverance from the famine, born of sheer desperation and the belief that the king is the last human resort, even if that hope is ultimately misplaced.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological impact. **Pathos** is profoundly evident in the woman's raw, desperate cry, "Help, my lord, O king," designed to evoke deep sympathy and sorrow from the reader for the suffering populace. The scene is imbued with **dramatic irony**, as the woman appeals to the king for "help," unaware that he is himself overwhelmed, despairing, and, as subsequent verses reveal, even complicit in the horrific conditions. His inability to provide the help she seeks, despite his position, underscores the tragic limitations of human power in the face of such overwhelming adversity. This plea also serves as **foreshadowing**, hinting at the need for a greater, divine intervention, which will ultimately come through the prophet Elisha in the following chapter, contrasting the king's impotence with God's ultimate power to deliver. The direct address to the king also functions as a form of **apostrophe**, a direct appeal to an absent or present entity, emphasizing the urgency and personal nature of her plea, making the reader a witness to this intimate moment of despair.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This poignant verse serves as a stark reminder of humanity's profound vulnerability and utter dependence on a power greater than itself, especially in times of extreme crisis. The woman's desperate cry to the king, who ultimately proves incapable of providing true relief, highlights the limitations of human authority and the futility of relying solely on earthly leaders for ultimate salvation. Theologically, it sets the stage for God's sovereign intervention, demonstrating that true help and deliverance come not from human strength or political power, but from the Lord alone, who hears the cries of the afflicted. This narrative implicitly challenges the people of Israel, and by extension, believers today, to look beyond immediate circumstances and human solutions to the divine source of all provision and salvation, recognizing that God's power is made perfect in human weakness.

* [Psalm 46:1](/psalm/46-1 "Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.")
* [Psalm 121:1-2](/psalm/121-1-2 "Psalm 121:1-2 - My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.")
* [Isaiah 30:15](/isaiah/30-15 "Isaiah 30:15 - In quietness and trust is your strength.")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene in 2 Kings 6:26 is a visceral depiction of human suffering pushed to its absolute limits, forcing a desperate cry for help from the highest available authority. It compels us to consider our own responses to overwhelming adversity, both personally and corporately. In moments when our own resources, or those of our leaders, prove insufficient, where do we turn? This narrative implicitly calls us to cultivate a deep sense of compassion for those in dire straits, recognizing that their cries, whether spoken or unspoken, are pleas for intervention and relief. It also challenges leaders, in any sphere, to recognize the immense weight of their responsibility and the limitations of their own power, prompting a reliance on divine wisdom and strength. Ultimately, this verse serves as a poignant reminder that while human help may falter, there is a higher power who hears every cry and is capable of providing deliverance beyond human comprehension, inviting us to place our hope in the One who truly saves.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when I encounter or hear about extreme suffering and desperation, both within my community and globally?**
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to place my ultimate hope and reliance, and how does this verse challenge those assumptions about human capability versus divine power?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the nature of true help and the source of ultimate deliverance, especially when earthly solutions fail?**
* **How can I, as an individual or part of a community of faith, be a conduit of God's compassion and help to those who are crying out in their own moments of crisis, reflecting the heart of the true King?**

### FAQ
**Who was the king of Israel mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: The king of Israel mentioned in [2 Kings 6:26](/2_kings/6-26 "2 Kings 6:26 - A Woman's Cry to the King") was King Joram (also known as Jehoram), the son of King Ahab. He reigned over the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His reign, like that of his father, was marked by a mixture of political and military challenges, often involving conflicts with the Arameans (Syrians), as well as ongoing spiritual struggles within Israel, including the continuation of Baal worship. The siege of Samaria by Ben-Hadad, the Aramean king, was a particularly severe event during Joram's rule, pushing his kingdom to the brink of collapse and revealing the king's own limitations.

**What was the nature of the "help" the woman was seeking?**

Answer: The woman was seeking immediate and desperate help from the king to alleviate the extreme famine caused by the prolonged Aramean siege of Samaria. The situation was so dire that people were resorting to unthinkable acts, including cannibalism, as revealed in the verses immediately following this one ([2 Kings 6:28-29](/2_kings/6-28-29 "2 Kings 6:28-29 - Extreme Famine and Cannibalism")). Her cry for "help" was a plea for food, for deliverance from starvation, and for the king to somehow provide relief from the unbearable suffering that had gripped the city. It was a cry for physical salvation from imminent death due to the siege.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate cry of the woman in 2 Kings 6:26, "Help, my lord, O king," echoes the universal human longing for a deliverer in times of overwhelming crisis. The earthly king of Israel, despite his title and position, was ultimately powerless to provide true salvation from the famine and the siege. He could only tear his clothes in despair, revealing his own helplessness. This scene powerfully foreshadows the coming of a greater King, Jesus Christ, who is not limited by human weakness or earthly circumstances. He is the true King who hears the cries of a world besieged by sin and death. Unlike Joram, Jesus possesses the power to truly save and deliver, not just from physical hunger but from spiritual starvation. He is the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life") who satisfies eternal hunger, and the [Good Shepherd](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - Jesus, the Good Shepherd") who lays down His life for His sheep. When we cry out to Him, as the woman cried to her king, we find not a helpless ruler but the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the compassionate Savior who, seeing the crowds "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd," was [moved with compassion](/matthew/9-36 "Matthew 9:36 - Jesus' Compassion for the Crowds"). He is the ultimate answer to humanity's cry for help, offering not just temporary relief but eternal salvation and abundant life, fulfilling the deepest longings expressed in the woman's desperate plea.

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

2 Samuel 14:4

And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.

Isaiah 10:3

And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation [which] shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

Acts 21:28

Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all [men] every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

Luke 18:3

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.