John Gill Commentary 1 Kings 19:15

"And Jehovah said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;" — 1 Kings 19:15 (ASV)

And the Lord said unto him, go, return on your way to the
wilderness of Damascus
He is told to go back the way he came, through the wilderness of Arabia, which was part of his way to Damascus, near to which was another wilderness, which took its name from thence; though Fortunatus Schacchus ^F24 thinks no other is meant by this phrase than returning to his former course and custom of preaching the law of God, and reclaiming men from the error of their ways:

and when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria ;
It is nowhere related that Elijah did go to Damascus, and anoint Hazael, though it may be he did. However, he acquainted Elisha with it, and he declared it to Hazael, that he should be king of Syria, and which perhaps is all that is meant by anointing; that is, that he should be made king, and which was declared by both these prophets, see (2 Kings 8:13).

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FOOTNOTES:

• F24: Elaeochrism. Myrothec. l. 1. c. 39. col. 198.