Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 19:15
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael [to be] king over Syria:
15. Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus ] It seems from what follows that the margin of the R.V. gives the truer sense, viz. ‘by the wilderness to Damascus.’ Elijah was to go back through the wilderness, the way by which he had come to Horeb, and we see that he came first to Abel-meholah, which was on the west of the Jordan, not far from Bethshean (see note above on 1Ki 4:12). Thus he was sent by God’s encouragement, and with His protection, through the land of Israel from which he had fled.
anoint Hazael to be king over Syria ] So far as the Scripture record goes we have no notice that Elijah performed this command in its literal sense, Hazael being subsequently informed by Elisha (2Ki 8:13) that the Lord had made known that he should become king over Israel, though even then he was not anointed. We must interpret the meaning of the command in accordance with the prophet’s action, judging that he understood what was intended by the words. The word ‘anoint’ is used concerning Jehu and Elisha as well as Hazael; and we know that Elijah did not anoint Elisha, though he could easily have done so, but only made known, by the act of casting his prophetic mantle upon him, that he was called to that office. In the same way then we may understand the rest of the divine order. Elijah was to receive assurance for himself, and to make known that assurance to others, as he found occasion, that God was still ruling Israel both from without and from within, and would call to the throne of Syria one who should execute His judgements upon His rebellious people, and to the throne of Israel one who should destroy Baal and his worship out of the land. We shall not err, it seems, if we suppose that the knowledge, which Elisha had (2Ki 8:13) when he says ‘The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria,’ was derived from Elijah’s communication, as also the instruction which led him, at a future day (2Ki 9:1-2), to send one of the sons of the prophets to Ramoth-Gilead to anoint Jehu. Hence ‘anoint’ in the text becomes equivalent to ‘point them out as the anointed ones.’
On Hazael’s wars at a subsequent time with Israel and Judah, see 2Ki 8:28-29. He subsequently invaded the territory of Israel and especially overran the district East of Jordan (2Ki 10:32-33), and held Israel in subjection ‘all the days of Jehoahaz’ (2Ki 13:3; 2Ki 13:22). Through him, we are told, ‘the Lord began to cut Israel short’ (2Ki 10:32), and there are many indications that this king was for Israel, the rod of God’s anger, a divinely appointed minister of His judgements.
For ‘anoint’ the R.V. reads thou shalt anoint, a change required by the Hebrew which is not an imperative.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The answer is not a justification of the ways of God, nor a direct reproof of the prophets weakness and despondency, nor an explanation or application of what Elijah had seen. For the present, he is simply directed back into the path of practical duty. His mission is not yet over, there is still work for him to do. He receives special injunctions with respect to Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha; and he is comforted with a revelation well adapted to rouse him from his despondency: there are seven thousand who will sympathize with him in his trials, and who need his care and attention.
The wilderness of Damascus – Probably the district north of the prophets own country, between Bashan and Damascus itself, and which was known in later times as Iturea and Gaulanitis. Here the prophet might be secure from Jezebel, while he could readily communicate with both Israel and Damascus, and execute the commissions with which he was entrusted.
When thou comest, anoint – Rather, and thou shalt go and anoint, Elijah performed one only of the three commissions given to him. He appears to have been left free to choose the time for executing his commissions, and it would seem that he thought the proper occasion had not arisen either for the first or the second before his own translation. But he took care to communicate the divine commands to his successor, who performed them at the fitting moment (marginal references).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Ki 19:15
And the Lord said unto him, Go, return.
Go, return
It is a very solemn thought, that one sin may for ever, so far as this world is concerned, wreck our usefulness. It is not always so. Sometimes–as in the case of the Apostle Peter–the Lord graciously restores, and re-commissions for His work, the one who might have been counted unfit ever again to engage in it. Feed My sheep. Feed My lambs. But against this one case we may put three others, in each of which it would seem as if the sentry angel, who forbade the return of our parents to Paradise, were stationed with strict injunctions to forbid any return to the former position of noble service. The first case is that of Moses; the meekest of men; the servant of the Lord; the foster-nurse of the Jewish nation, whose intercessions saved them again and again from destruction. Yet because he spake unadvisedly with his lips, and smote the rock twice, in unbelief and passion, he was compelled to bear the awful sentence: Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. The second case is that of Saul, the first ill-fated King of Israel, whose reign opened so auspiciously, as a morning without clouds, but who soon brought upon himself the sentence of deposition. Yet it was only for one single act. Alarmed at Samuels long delay, and at the scattering of the people, he intruded rashly into a province from which he was expressly excluded, and offered the sacrifice with which the Israelites were wont to prepare for battle. The third case is that of Elijah. He was never reinstated in quite the position which he had occupied before his fatal flight. True he was bidden to return on his way, and work was indicated for him to do. But that work was the anointing of three men, who were to share amongst them the ministry which he might have fulfilled if only he had been true to his opportunities and faithful to his God. Gods work must go on; if not by us, then, through our failures, by others brought in to supply our place. Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus, etc.
I. The variety of Gods instruments. Hazael, King of Syria; Jehu, the rude captain; and Elisha, the young farmer. It is remarkable how God accomplishes His purposes through men who only think of working their own wild way. Their sin is not diminished or condoned because they are executing the designs of Heaven; it still stands out in all its malignant deformity. And yet, though they are held accountable for the evil, it is none the less evident that they do whatsoever Gods hand and Gods counsel determined before to be done. Joseph comforted his brethren, after his fathers death, by telling them that though they thought evil against him, God meant it unto good, to save much people alive.
II. No one can entirely escape from Gods personal dealings. Gods nets are not all constructed with the same meshes. Men may escape through some of them; but they cannot escape through all. If they elude the Gospel ministry, they will be caught by some earnest worker, apt at personal dealing. If they manage to evade all contact with the living voice, they may yet be reached by the printed page. If they evade all religious literature, they may still be the sudden subjects of the strivings of the Spirit. Him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
III. God never overlooks one of His own. Elijah thought that he alone was left as a lover and worshipper of God. It was a great mistake. God had many hidden ones. Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. We know nothing of their names or history. They were probably unknown in camp or court–obscure, simple-hearted, and humble. Their only testimony was one long refusal to the solicitations of the foul rites of idolatry. They groaned and wept in secret; and spake often one to another, while the Lord hearkened and heard. But they were all known to God, and enrolled amongst His jewels, and counted as a shepherd tells his sheep. He cared for them with an infinite solicitude; and it was for their sake that He raised up the good and gentle Elisha to carry on the nurture and discipline of their souls. (F. B. Meyer, B. A.)
Return to duty
I. As Elijah journeyed back through the desert, one of his feelings doubtless would be this–deep sorrow on account of his past faithlessness, and a salutary sense of his weakness for the time to come. Every step of that backward journey must have recalled, with sorrow and shame, the remembrance of his unworthy flight and unworthy unbelief.
II. Another feeling Elijah had, in leaving his cave, must have been a lively sense and apprehension of Gods great mercy. What, in the retrospect of the recent wondrous manifestation, would more especially linger in the prophets recollection? Not the wind, not the earthquake, not the fire; but the still small voice.
III. We may suppose another feeling entertained by Elijah in departing from his cave and returning through the wilderness, would be, a fixed purpose and resolution of new and more devoted obedience. Mourning an unworthy past–penetrated by a lively sense of Jehovahs love,–he would go onward and forward, resolved more than ever on a life of grateful love and of active and unwavering service, until God saw meet to take him up in His chariot of fire. (J. R. Macduff, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 15. To the wilderness of Damascus] He does not desire him to take a road by which he might be likely to meet Jezebel, or any other of his enemies.
Anoint Hazael] For what reason the Lord was about to make all these revolutions, we are told in 1Kg 19:17. God was about to bring his judgments upon the land, and especially on the house of Ahab. This he exterminated by means of Jehu; and Jehu himself was a scourge of the Lord to the people. Hazael also grievously afflicted Israel; see the accomplishment of these purposes, 2 Kings 8, and 9.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Return on thy way, by which thou camest; for so in part lay the way from Horeb to Damascus.
Anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: anoint; either, first, Figuratively, i.e. appoint or declare him king; which was done, 2Ki 8:12; for this word is oft used of them who were never anointed with oil, Psa 45:7; Isa 45:1; 41:1; Zec 4:14; Dan 9:24. Or, secondly, Properly; which might be done, though it be not related. Again, anoint, either by thyself, or by another; for so he anointed Jehu by Elisha, 2Ki 9:1,6.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the Lord said unto him, go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus,…. He is bid 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 x thinks no other is meant by this phrase than returning to his former course and custom of preach the law of God, and reclaiming men from the error of their ways:
and when thou comest, 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 2Ki 8:13.
x Elaeochrism. Myrothec. l. 1. c. 39. col. 198.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) Go, return.The charge conveys indirectly a double rebuke. His cry of disappointment, Lord . . . I am not better than my fathers, implying that he stood out beyond all others, to meet the stern requirements of the time, is met by the charge to delegate the task of vengeance for God to others; the complaint, I, even I alone, am left, by the revelation of the faithful remnantthe seven thousand who had not bowed to Baalunknown to him, perhaps to one another, but known and loved by God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Return on thy way Go forth into the fields of labour where my Spirit shall hereafter lead thee, and let my Spirit, not thy frail judgment, guide thee.
To the wilderness of Damascus The wild country between Gilead and Damascus is probably meant. This was near Elijah’s early home, (see note on 1Ki 17:1,) and a place whence he might easily go forth to utter the word of God to either Israelite or Syrian, and again quickly retire into solitude. The wilderness near where Israel’s and Jehovah’s interests are pending, not the wilderness of Horeb, is now the place where the prophet is needed. There must he instruct Elisha and other prophets in the revelations of the Divine nature which he has received.
When thou comest, anoint Hazael Rather, (for these verbs are not in the imperative, like Go and Return,) and thou wilt come and anoint Hazael. It is the word of the Lord foretelling the agencies by which the wicked house of Ahab shall be destroyed. We know not that Elijah ever saw or anointed Hazael or Jehu, though he may have done so privately, as Samuel did Saul, (1Sa 9:27; 1Sa 10:1,) and no account of it have been preserved. But as this was actually done by Elisha (who was anointed prophet in Elijah’s room, 1Ki 19:16) and another prophet whom Elisha, in turn, commissioned, the spirit and real import of this prediction was thoroughly fulfilled. 2Ki 8:10-13; 2Ki 9:1-7. This fulfilment by Elisha instead of Elijah was specially significant in this case, since it was partly the design of this communication at Horeb to indicate to Elijah, and through him to all who read this history, how manifold may be the agencies which accomplish the Divine purposes. Hence, too, Jehovah speaks in these words not to Elijah only, but also to his successors in office.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 19:15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael [to be] king over Syria:
Ver. 15. To the wilderness of Damascus. ] Where it is probable that Elijah with his own hand anointed Hazael, and afterwards Jehu and Elisha, though these unctions might be reiterated at the time of their accomplishment.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
on thy way = to thy way: i.e. out of which he had deviated.
anoint: i.e. cause to be anointed. Compare 2Ki 9:1-7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Appointing Jehovahs Instruments
1Ki 19:15-21
Elijah was never reinstated in quite the position that he had occupied before his fatal flight. True, he was bidden to return, and work was given him to do. But that work consisted in anointing three men who were to share the ministry which he might have fulfilled, if only he had been true to his opportunities and faithful to his God. Gods work must go forward, if not by us, then by others brought in to fill our place.
Hazael, king of Syria; Jehu, the rude captain; and Elisha, the young farmer. Each was as different as possible from the others; yet each had his special sphere in dealing with the idolatries and impurities that were destroying the chosen race. Gods nets are not all constructed with the same size of meshes. Men may escape some of the bigger ones, who will be caught by the smaller ones. But God so orders the lives of men that once at least each encounters a mesh that cannot be evaded. What a comfort it is to think that God is at work in the world, and that, while statistics tell a sad tale, there may still be seven thousand secret disciples for every Elijah!
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
wilderness of Damascus: The wilderness of Damascus seems to have been that part of Arabia Deserta which lay on the south-east of that city, and east of the Trachonites, or the Djebel Haouran and El Ledja; at which the prophet could arrive without meeting Jezebel or any of his enemies. Gen 14:15, 2Ki 8:7, Act 9:2, Act 9:3
anoint: Isa 45:1, Jer 1:10, Jer 27:2-22
Hazael: 2Ki 8:8-15, 2Ki 8:28, 2Ki 9:14, Amo 1:4
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:9 – wherewith 1Sa 9:16 – thou shalt 1Ki 11:24 – to Damascus 2Ki 8:9 – Hazael 2Ki 8:13 – The Lord 2Ki 8:15 – Hazael
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 19:15-16. Go, return on thy way The way by which thou camest; for the way from Horeb to Damascus was, in part, the same with that by which he had come. Anoint Hazael to be king over Syria It seems, the word anoint must here be taken figuratively for appoint, or declare, which was done by Elisha, 2Ki 8:12; for the word is often used of them who were never anointed with oil: Elijah, however, might anoint him, though it be not related; or, as some think, when he understood what scourges he and Jehu would be to Israel, and what destruction they would bring upon them, he perhaps earnestly entreated God, and obtained his request, that the execution of the command should be deferred to another time. And Jehu the son of Nimshi That is, his grandson; for he was the son of Jehoshaphat, 2Ki 9:2. And Elisha shalt thou anoint Whom he constituted prophet by casting his mantle over him. This was intended as a prediction, that by these persons God would punish the degenerate Israelites, plead his own cause among them, and avenge the quarrel of his covenant.