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 F24 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 ( 2 Kings 8:13
) .