1 Kings 19:15

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

And Yahweh said unto him, Go, return to thy way, towards the wilderness of Damascus, - and, when thou enterest, then shalt thou anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram.

Hebrew Names Version
The LORD said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Dammesek: and when you come, you shall anoint Haza'el to be king over Aram;

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:

English Standard Version
And the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.

New Century Version
The Lord said to him, "Go back on the road that leads to the desert around Damascus. Enter that city, and pour olive oil on Hazael to make him king over Aram.

New English Translation
The Lord said to him, "Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria.

Amplified Bible
The LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram (Syria);

New American Standard Bible
The LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And the Lord said vnto him, Goe, returne by the wildernes vnto Damascus, and when thou commest there, anoint Hazael King ouer Aram.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Yahweh said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and you will arrive and anoint Hazael king over Aram;

Contemporary English Version
The Lord said: Elijah, you can go back to the desert near Damascus. And when you get there, appoint Hazael to be king of Syria.

Complete Jewish Bible
Adonai said to him, "Go back by way of the Dammesek Desert. When you get there, anoint Haza'el to be king over Aram.

Darby Translation
And Jehovah said to him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when thou comest, anoint Hazael king over Syria;

Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord said, "Go back. Take the road that leads to the desert around Damascus. Go into Damascus and anoint Hazael as king over Aram.

George Lamsa Translation
And the LORD said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; then go and anoint Hazael to be king over Aram;

Good News Translation
The Lord said, "Return to the wilderness near Damascus, then enter the city and anoint Hazael as king of Syria;

Lexham English Bible
Then Yahweh said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael as king over Aram;

Literal Translation
And Jehovah said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and you shall go in and anoint Hazael as king over Syria;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the LORDE sayde vnto him: Go yi waye agayne thorow the wyldernes vnto Damascon, & go in, & anoynte Hasael kynge ouer Siria,

American Standard Version
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;

Bible in Basic English
And the Lord said to him, Go back on your way through the waste land to Damascus; and when you come there, put the holy oil on Hazael to make him king over Aram;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the Lord sayde vnto him: Go, and turne thy way to the wildernesse vnto Damasco: & when thou commest there, annoynt Hazael king ouer Syria:

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the LORD 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 Aram;

King James Version (1611)
And the Lord sayd vnto him, Goe, returne on thy way to the wildernesse of Damascus: and when thou commest, anoint Hazael to be King ouer Syria.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the Lord said to him, Go, return, and thou shalt come into the way of the wilderness of Damascus: and thou shalt go and anoint Azael to be king over Syria.

English Revised Version
And the LORD 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:

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to him, "Go back by the way you came, to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the Lord seide to hym, Go, and turne ayen in to thi weie, bi the deseert, in to Damask; and whanne thou schalt come thidur, thou schalt anoynte Asahel kyng on Sirie;

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto him, `Go turn back on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus, and thou hast gone in, and anointed Hazael for king over Aram,

Update Bible Version
And Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael [to be] king over Syria:

World English Bible
Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;

New King James Version
Then the LORD said to him: "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.

New Living Translation
Then the Lord told him, "Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.

New Life Bible
The Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the desert of Damascus. When you get there, set apart Hazael to be the king of Syria.

New Revised Standard
Then the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to him: Go, and return on thy way, through the desert, to Damascus: and when thou art come thither, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;

Revised Standard Version
And the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Haz'ael to be king over Syria;

THE MESSAGE
God said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha. Meanwhile, I'm preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven't bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven't kissed his image."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
The LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram;

Contextual Overview

⁹ And he entered, there, into a cave, and lodged there, - and lo! the word of Yahweh came unto him, and said to him, What doest thou here, Elijah? ¹⁰ And he said - Very jealous, have I been, for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the sons of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thine altars, have they thrown down, thy prophets, also have they slain with the sword, - and, I alone, am left, and they have sought my life, to take it. ¹¹ And he said - Go forth to-morrow, and stand in the mountain, before Yahweh. And lo! Yahweh, passing by, and a great and strong wind - rending the mountains, and breaking in pieces the crags, before Yahweh, Not, in the wind, was, Yahweh, - And, after the wind, an, earthquake, Not, in the earthquake, was, Yahweh; ¹² And, after the earthquake, a, fire, Not, in the fire, was, Yahweh, - And, after the fire, the voice of a gentle whisper. ¹³ And it came to pass, when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went forth, and stood at the entrance of the cave, - and lo! unto him, a voice; and it said - What doest thou here, Elijah? ¹⁴ And he said - Very jealous, have I been, for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the sons of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thine altars, have they thrown down, thy prophets also, have they slain with the sword, - and, I alone, am left, and they rove sought my life, to take it. ¹⁵ And Yahweh said unto him, Go, return to thy way, towards the wilderness of Damascus, - and, when thou enterest, then shalt thou anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; ¹⁶ And, Jehu son of Minshi, shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel, - and, Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy stead: ¹⁷ Then shall it come to pass, that - him that escapeth the sword of Hazael, shall, Jehu, slay, - and, him that escapeth the sword of Jehu, shall, Elisha, slay; ¹⁸ Yet will I leave remaining in Israel, seven thousand, - all knees which have not bowed to Baal, and all mouths which have not kissed to him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

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. Genesis 14:15, 2 Kings 8:7, Acts 9:2, Acts 9:3

anoint: Isaiah 45:1, Jeremiah 1:10, Jeremiah 27:2-22

Hazael: 2 Kings 8:8-15, 2 Kings 8:28, 2 Kings 9:14, Amos 1:4

Reciprocal: Judges 9:9 - wherewith 1 Samuel 9:16 - thou shalt 1 Kings 11:24 - to Damascus 2 Kings 8:9 - Hazael 2 Kings 8:13 - The Lord 2 Kings 8:15 - Hazael

Cross-References

Genesis 19:4
Ere yet they lay down, the men of the city - the men of Sodom, had come round against the house, from youth even unto age, - all the people from every quarter,

Genesis 19:5
And they called unto Lot and said to him, Where are the men who have come in unto thee tonight? Bring them forth unto us, and let us know them!

Genesis 19:7
And he said, - Do not I pray you my brethren act wickedly.

Genesis 19:8
Behold, I pray you, I, have two daughters who have not known man, I must needs now bring, them, forth unto you, and do ye to them, as may be good in your eyes, - Only to these men, ye may do nothing; for on this account, have they come under the shade of my roof.

Genesis 19:17
And it came to pass when they had brought them forth outside, that they said, Escape for thy life, Look not behind thee, neither stand still in all the vale, - To the mountain, escape thou lest thou be swept away.

Genesis 19:22
Haste thee escape thither, for I cannot do anything, until thou have come in thither. For this cause: was the name of the city called Zoar.

Genesis 19:24
And, Yahweh, rained, upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah, brimstone and fire, - from Yahweh, out of the heavens:

Genesis 19:25
so he overthrew these cities, and all the circuit, - and all the inhabitants of the cities, and the produce of the ground.

Genesis 19:27
And Abraham gat up early in the morning, unto the place where he had stood before Yahweh;

2 Corinthians 6:2
For he saith - In an approved season, have I hearkened unto thee, and, in a day of salvation, have succoured thee; - Lo! now, a well-approved season, Lo! now, a day of salvation:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 2 Kings 8:13.

x Elaeochrism. Myrothec. l. 1. c. 39. col. 198.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The answer is not a justification of the ways of God, nor a direct reproof of the prophet’s 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 prophet’s 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).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 19:15. 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 1 Kings 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 8:0, and 2 Kings 9:0.