The relentless pursuit of foreign alliances, material wealth, and idol worship takes a massive, exhausting toll on a nation. This deep fatigue plays out on multiple levels. Politically, the nation expends tremendous energy scrambling for help from foreign powers, such as the king of Assyria. When one diplomatic maneuver fails, they simply pivot and try another [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. On a personal and spiritual level, this exhaustion stems from an intense, never-ending chase after physical desires and the accumulation of wealth [רש״י]. It is also reflected in their devotion to idol worship, which resembles the desperate pursuit of lovers [מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, the very act of living a life of sin becomes a deeply draining endeavor [שד״ל].
Usually, an exhausted traveler eventually loses hope and stops to rest. Yet, despite their overwhelming fatigue and repeated failures, the people refuse to abandon their destructive course. Rather than recognizing the futility of their actions and returning to the Torah and God's Commandments [רש״י], they stubbornly hold onto the hope that their exhausting efforts will eventually pay off [אבן עזרא]. This persistence is fueled by a twisted affection for their own rebellion; the heavy burden of sin and the imitation of foreign nations have actually become sweet and beloved to them [רד״ק].
The root of this stubbornness lies in a dangerous illusion of vitality. Along their corrupt path, the people manage to find just enough strength, health, or material sustenance to keep going [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They successfully secure their immediate needs [רש״י] or acquire superficial military power, such as chariots and horsemen [מצודת דוד]. A striking metaphor captures this condition: it is like a battered, dying body where only the hand remains active. Even after the nation has suffered severe blows and mass exile, the small remnant left in the land feels a false surge of power, convincing themselves they still have the strength to continue their evil ways [מלבי״ם]. In the context of their immoral pursuits, this false vitality is closely tied to the fleeting satisfaction of physical lusts [שד״ל].
Because the people embrace their exhausting efforts with a sense of joy and find momentary success, they are completely numb to their own spiritual sickness [מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא]. They lack any worry for their future [שד״ל], and their hearts feel no sorrow over abandoning God and His teachings [רש״י]. This partial spark of life and temporary satisfaction ultimately blinds them. It prevents them from recognizing the hidden diseases festering within their society and leaves them entirely insensitive to the profound pain of the fractured national body [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].