Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 13:9

"for so was it charged me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Thou shalt eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that thou camest." — 1 Kings 13:9 (ASV)

Nor turn again ... —The significance of this command is less obvious. It may have meant that he should not allow the way of his return (which would clearly not be the obvious way) to be known, but should vanish swiftly, like the messenger of Elisha to Jehu (2 Kings 9:3; 2 Kings 9:10), when his work was done. If so, his neglect of the spirit of the command was the first step on the path to his destruction.