Bible Strands
1 Kings 19:15
Then the LORD said to him, “Go back by the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh speaks to Elijah immediately after Elijah reports his isolation and fear in 1 Kings 19:14. The command is issued at the conclusion of the divine encounter sequence.
The words — The directive hinges on לֵךְ (lekh), meaning "go," and שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "return" or "go back." These verbs frame the required physical movement toward the Desert of Damascus.
The thread — The pattern of divine appointment and sovereign commission over nations appears in Isaiah 45:1 and Jeremiah 1:10. The narrative outcome of this command is recorded in 2 Kings 8:7.
Why it lands — The text states that Yahweh redirects Elijah from despair to a specific geographic and political task. It requires the reader to recognize that divine action continues through appointed human agents rather than isolated prophetic effort.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- Isaiah 45:1 This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:
- Jeremiah 1:10 See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”
- 2 Kings 8:7 Then Elisha came to Damascus while Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick, and the king was told, “The man of God has come here.”
- Genesis 14:15 During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.
- 2 Kings 8:28 Then Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to fight against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, and the Arameans wounded Joram.
- 2 Kings 9:14 Thus Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram,
- Jeremiah 27:2 This is what the LORD said to me: “Make for yourself a yoke out of leather straps and put it on your neck.
- Amos 1:4 So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.
- Acts 9:2 and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.