After crying out in despair and asking to die out of intense zeal for God, the prophet is told that his mission is not yet over. God has further tasks for him, specifically to execute the strict justice he so deeply desired. To do this, God instructs him to appoint three men, Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha, who will serve as the agents of divine punishment against the sins of the people.
God directs him to go back the way he came, assuring him that no harm will fall upon him and that he can travel safely [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Alternatively, this return is understood conceptually. Since he demanded punishment for the Israelites, God is telling him to return to his characteristic path as a zealous avenger and begin preparing the agents of disaster [אברבנאל]. His route will take him toward or through the desert near Damascus [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אברבנאל].
He is instructed to anoint these men. The primary approach among commentators is that this does not refer to a physical anointing with oil. Instead, it is a borrowed term meaning to crown, appoint to leadership, or elevate to greatness, similar to how the kings of Israel were established [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל].
A significant difficulty arises, as he never actually appointed Hazael or Jehu. Elisha performed these acts much later. The main view among commentators is that the command meant he was to authorize Elisha to carry out these appointments in his place. Another perspective suggests that because he actively prosecuted the Israelites, he set in motion the decree that brought these destroyers to power. Consequently, the action is credited to him as if he performed the appointments himself [רלב״ג].
The reason he did not execute these appointments immediately, and why they were delayed, stems from the reaction of King Ahab. Following Ahab's later surrender and repentance, God withheld His anger and postponed the decree of disaster until the days of Ahab's son. Therefore, the actual appointments were delayed and ultimately carried out by Elisha [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].
Furthermore, God lists the three agents in a specific sequence, naming Hazael, Jehu, and finally Elisha. This is surprising since the prophet actually met Elisha first. Commentators agree that this order is not chronological. Rather, it reflects the progression and scope of the coming vengeance. Hazael would strike down the masses in battle, Jehu would destroy the royal house and the idolaters who stayed behind, and Elisha would punish anyone who managed to escape the first two [מלבי״ם, רד״ק, אברבנאל].