Reference: Famine
American
Scripture records several famines in Palestine, and the neighboring countries, Ge 12:10; 26:1; Ru 1:1; 2Ki 6:25; Ac 11:27. The most remarkable one was that of seven years in Egypt, while Joseph was governor, Ge 41. It was distinguished for its duration, extent, and severity; particularly as Egypt is one of the countries least subject to such a calamity, by reason of its general fertility. Famine is sometimes a natural effect, as when the Nile does not overflow in Egypt, or rains do not fall in Judea, at the customary season; or when caterpillars, locusts, or other insects, destroy the fruits. But all natural causes are under the control of God; and he often so directs them as to chastise the rebellious with want, 2Ki 8:1-2; Eze 6:1; Mt 24:7. The worst famine is a spiritual one, Am 8:11.
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After this there came a dearth in the land. And Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the dearth was sore in the land.
And there fell a dearth in the land, passing the first dearth that fell in the days of Abraham. Wherefore Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar.
In the time when the judges judged, there fell a dearth in the land. Wherefore a certain man of Bethlehem Judah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab with his wife and two sons.
Then spake Elisha unto the woman whose son he had restored to life again, saying, "Up, and go both thou and thine house, and sojourn where thou thinkest best, for the LORD will call a dearth which shall come on the land seven years." And the woman arose and did after the saying of the man of God, and went both she and her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
"Behold, the time cometh," sayeth the LORD God, "that I shall send a hunger into the earth. Not the hunger of bread, nor the thirst of water: but a hunger to hear the word of the LORD.
For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm: and there shall be pestilence, and hunger, and earthquakes in all quarters.
Easton
The first mentioned in Scripture was so grievous as to compel Abraham to go down to the land of Egypt (Ge 26:1). Another is mentioned as having occurred in the days of Isaac, causing him to go to Gerar (Ge 26:1,17). But the most remarkable of all was that which arose in Egypt in the days of Joseph, which lasted for seven years (Genesis 41-45).
Famines were sent as an effect of God's anger against a guilty people (2Ki 8:1-2; Am 8:11; De 28:22-42; 2Sa 21:1; 2Ki 6:25-28; 25:3; Jer 14:15; 19:9; 42:17, etc.). A famine was predicted by Agabus (Ac 11:28). Josephus makes mention of the famine which occurred A.D. 45. Helena, queen of Adiabene, being at Jerusalem at that time, procured corn from Alexandria and figs from Cyprus for its poor inhabitants.
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And there fell a dearth in the land, passing the first dearth that fell in the days of Abraham. Wherefore Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar.
And there fell a dearth in the land, passing the first dearth that fell in the days of Abraham. Wherefore Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar.
Then Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley Gerar and dwelt there.
And the LORD shall smite thee with swelling, with fevers, heat, burning, weathering, with smiting and blasting. And they shall follow thee, until thou perish. "And the heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee, iron. read more. And the LORD shall turn the rain of the land unto powder and dust: even from heaven they shall come down upon thee, until thou be brought to nought. And the LORD shall plague thee before thine enemies: Thou shalt come out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them, and shalt be scattered among all the kingdoms of the earth. And thy carcass shall be meat unto all manner fowls of the air and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away. "And the LORD will smite thee with the botches of Egypt and the hemorrhoids, scall and manginess, that thou shalt not be healed thereof. And the LORD shall smite thee with madness, blindness and dazing of heart. And thou shalt grope at noonday as the blind gropeth in darkness, and shalt not come to the right way. And thou shalt suffer violence and wrong all thy life long, and no man shall help thee. Thou shalt be betrothed unto a wife, and another shall lie with her. Thou shalt build a house and another shall dwell therein. Thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not make it common. Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof. Thine ass shall be violently taken away even before thy face, and shall not be restored thee again. Thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and no man shall help thee. Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another nation, and thine eyes shall see and daze upon them all day long, but shalt have no might in thine hand. The fruit of thy land and all thy labours shall a nation eat, which thou knowest not; and thou shalt but suffer violence only and be oppressed always, that thou shalt be clean beside thyself for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. "The LORD shall smite thee with a mischievous botch in the knees and legs, so that thou canst not be healed: even from the sole of the foot unto the top of the head. The LORD shall bring both thee and thy king which thou hast set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, and there thou shalt serve strange gods: even wood and stone. And thou shalt go to waste and be made an example and a jestingstock unto all nations whither the LORD shall carry thee. Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in: for the grasshoppers shall destroy it. Thou shalt plant a vineyard and dress it, but shalt neither drink of the wine neither gather of the grapes: for the worms shall eat it. Thou shalt have olive trees in all thy coasts, but shalt not be anointed with the oil: for thine olive trees shall be rooted out. Thou shalt get sons and daughters, but shalt not have them: for they shall be carried away captive. All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall be marred with blasting.
Then spake Elisha unto the woman whose son he had restored to life again, saying, "Up, and go both thou and thine house, and sojourn where thou thinkest best, for the LORD will call a dearth which shall come on the land seven years." And the woman arose and did after the saying of the man of God, and went both she and her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.
Therefore, thus sayeth the LORD: As for those prophets that preach in my name, whom I nevertheless have not sent, and that say, 'Tush, there shall neither battle, nor hunger be in this land': With sword and with hunger shall those prophets perish,
I will feed them also with the flesh of their sons and their daughters. Yea every one shall eat up another in the besieging and straightness, wherewith their enemies, that seek their lives, shall keep them in.'
For all they, that of set purpose undertake to go into Egypt, there to ease themselves of their misery, shall perish with the sword, with hunger and pestilence. Not one of them shall remain; there shall none escape the plague, that I will bring upon them.
"Behold, the time cometh," sayeth the LORD God, "that I shall send a hunger into the earth. Not the hunger of bread, nor the thirst of water: but a hunger to hear the word of the LORD.
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit, that there should be great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the Emperor Claudius' days.
Fausets
Often sent as visitations from God for sin. 2Ki 8:1; "the Lord hath called for a famine" (Ps 105:16), as a master calls for a servant ready to do his bidding. Compare Mt 8:8-9; contrast Eze 36:29. So associated with pestilence and the sword (1/type/mstc'>2 Samuel 21; 1 Kings 17). The famine in Ru 1:1 was probably owing to the Midianite devastation of the land (Judges 6), so severe in the Holy Land that Elimelech had to emigrate to Moab, and Naomi his widow returned not until ten years had elapsed. Isa 51:19; Jer 14:15; 15:2; Eze 5:12. Defects in agriculture, in means of transit, and in freedom of commerce through despotism, were among the natural causes of frequent famines anciently.
Failure of the heavy rains in November and December in Palestine (Ge 12:10; 26:1-2), and of the due overflow of the Nile, along with E. and S. winds (the N. wind on the contrary brings rains, and retards the too rapid current) in Egypt, the ancient granary of the world, often brought famines (Ge 41:25-36,42). Abraham's faith was tried by the famine which visited the land promised as his inheritance immediately after his entering it; yet though going down to Egypt for food, it was only "to sojourn," not to live there, for his faith in the promise remained unshaken. A record of famine for seven years in the 18th century B.C. has been found in China, which agrees with the time of Joseph's seven years of famine in Egypt.
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After this there came a dearth in the land. And Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the dearth was sore in the land.
And there fell a dearth in the land, passing the first dearth that fell in the days of Abraham. Wherefore Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar. Then the LORD appeared unto him and said, "Go not down into Egypt, but bide in the land which I say unto thee:
Then Joseph said unto Pharaoh, "Both Pharaoh's dreams are one. And God doth show Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years: and the seven good ears are seven years also, and is but one dream. read more. Likewise, the seven thin and evil favored cows that came out after them, are seven years: and the seven empty and blasted ears shall be seven years of hunger. This is that which I said unto Pharaoh, that God doth show Pharaoh what he is about to do. "Behold, there shall come seven years of great plenteousness throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of hunger. So that all the plenteousness shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt. And the hunger shall consume the land: so that the plenteousness shall not be once a seen in the land, by reason of that hunger that shall come after, for it shall be exceeding great. And as concerning that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh the second time, it betokeneth that the thing is certainly prepared of God, and that God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore, let Pharaoh provide for a man of understanding and wisdom, and set him over the land of Egypt. And let Pharaoh make officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years and let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the power of Pharaoh: that there may be food in the cities, and there let them keep it: that there may be food in store in the land, against the seven years of hunger which shall come in the land of Egypt, and that the land perish not through hunger."
And he took off his ring from his finger, and put it upon Joseph's finger, and he arrayed him in raiment of byss, and put a golden chain about his neck,
In the time when the judges judged, there fell a dearth in the land. Wherefore a certain man of Bethlehem Judah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab with his wife and two sons.
Then spake Elisha unto the woman whose son he had restored to life again, saying, "Up, and go both thou and thine house, and sojourn where thou thinkest best, for the LORD will call a dearth which shall come on the land seven years."
Moreover he called for a dearth upon the land, and destroyed all the provision of bread.
Both these things are happened unto thee, but who is sorry for it? Yea, destruction, wasting, hunger and sword: but who hath comforted thee?
Therefore, thus sayeth the LORD: As for those prophets that preach in my name, whom I nevertheless have not sent, and that say, 'Tush, there shall neither battle, nor hunger be in this land': With sword and with hunger shall those prophets perish,
And if they say unto thee, 'Whither shall we go?' Then tell them, 'The LORD giveth you this answer: Some unto death, some to the sword, some to hunger, some into captivity.'
One third part within thee shall die of the pestilence and of hunger: Another third part shall be slain down round about thee with the sword: The other third part, that remaineth, will I scatter abroad toward all the winds, and draw out the sword after them.
"I will help you out of all your uncleannesses. I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and will let you have no hunger.
The Centurion answered and said, "Sir, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I also myself am a man under power, and have soldiers under me: and I say to one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it."
Hastings
In Palestine, famine is usually due to failure of the rainfall (Le 26:19; Am 4:6-7). Both crops and pasturage depend on the proper amount falling at the right time, the 'early rain' in Oct.
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After this there came a dearth in the land. And Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the dearth was sore in the land.
And there fell a dearth in the land, passing the first dearth that fell in the days of Abraham. Wherefore Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar.
The flax and the barley were smitten, for the barley was shot up and the flax was bolled:
And they covered all the face of the earth, so that the land was dark therewith. And they ate all the herbs of the land and all the fruits of the trees which the hail had left: so that there was no green thing left in the trees and herbs of the field through all the land of Egypt.
and will break the pride of your strength. For I will make the heaven over you as hard as iron, and your land as hard as brass.
but the land whither ye go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven,
then he will give rain unto your land in due season, both the first rain and the latter, and thou shalt gather in thy corn, thy wine and thine oil.
"And the LORD shall bring a nation upon thee from afar, even from the end of the world, as swift as an eagle flyeth: a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; a hard-favoured nation which shall not regard the person of the old nor have compassion on the young. read more. And he shall eat the fruit of thy land and the fruit of thy cattle until he have destroyed thee: so that he shall leave thee neither corn, wine, nor oil, neither the increase of thine oxen nor the flocks of thy sheep: until he have brought thee to nought. And he shall keep thee in all thy cities, until thy high and strong walls be come down wherein thou trustedest, through all thy land. And he shall besiege thee in all thy cities throughout all thy land which the LORD thy God hath given thee. "And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body; the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in that straitness and siege wherewith thine enemy shall besiege thee: so that it shall grieve the man that is tender, and exceeding delicate among you, to look on his brother and upon his wife that lieth in his bosom and on the remnant of his children, which he hath yet left - for fear of giving unto any of them of the flesh of his children, which he eateth, because he hath nought left him in that straitness and siege wherewith thine enemy shall besiege thee in all thy cities. Yea, and the woman that is so tender and delicate among you that she dare not venture to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for softness and tenderness, shall be grieved to look on the husband that lieth in her bosom and on her son and on her daughter - even because of the afterbirth, that is come out from between her legs, and because of her children which she hath borne, because she would eat them for need of all things; secretly, in the straitness and siege wherewith thine enemy shall besiege thee in thy cities.
In the time when the judges judged, there fell a dearth in the land. Wherefore a certain man of Bethlehem Judah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab with his wife and two sons.
If there chance dearth in the land, pestilence, blasting or withering of corn, or that the fruits be devoured of grasshoppers or caterpillars, or if their enemies besiege them in the land and in their own cities, or whatsoever plague or sickness chance:
And Elijah the Tishbite, which was of the inhabiters of Gilead, said unto Ahab, "As truly as the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, save as I appoint it."
And Ahab said unto Obadiah, "Walk through the land, unto all fountains of water and unto all brooks, to see whether any grass may be found that we may save the horses and the mules, that we destroy not the beasts."
And there arose great dearth in Samaria: for they had besieged it, until an ass's head was worth four score sicles of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of doves' dung worth five sicles.
And the ninth day of the fourth month of that year, there was so great hunger in the city, that there was no sustenance for the people of the land.
Whoso abideth in this city shall perish: either with the sword, with hunger, or with pestilence. But whoso goeth out to hold on the Chaldeans part that besiege it, he shall save his life, and shall win his soul for a prey.
Whoso abideth in this city shall perish: either with the sword, with hunger, or with pestilence. But whoso goeth out to hold on the Chaldeans part that besiege it, he shall save his life, and shall win his soul for a prey.
{Yod} The women, which of nature are pitiful, have sodden their own children with their hands that they might be their meat, in the miserable destruction of the daughter of my people.
Look, what the caterpillar hath left, that hath the grasshopper eaten up; what the grasshopper left, that hath the locust eaten up; and what the locust hath left, that hath the blasting consumed.
"'Therefore have I given you idle teeth in all your cities, and scarceness of bread in all your places: yet will ye not turn unto me,' sayeth the LORD. When there were but three months unto the harvest, I withheld the rain from you. Yea, I rained upon one city, and not upon another; one piece of ground was moistured with rain, and the ground that I rained not upon, was dry.
'I have smitten you with drought and blasting: and look how many orchards, vineyards, fig trees, and olive trees ye had: the caterpillar hath eaten them up. But yet will ye not turn unto me,' sayeth the LORD.
"Behold, the time cometh," sayeth the LORD God, "that I shall send a hunger into the earth. Not the hunger of bread, nor the thirst of water: but a hunger to hear the word of the LORD.
For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm: and there shall be pestilence, and hunger, and earthquakes in all quarters.
For there shall nation arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be earthquakes, in all quarters, and famishment, and troubles. These are the beginning of sorrows.
and great earthquakes shall be in all quarters, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearful things. And great signs shall there be from heaven.
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit, that there should be great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the Emperor Claudius' days.
Elijah was a man, mortal even as we are, and he prayed in his prayer, that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, "Come and see." And I beheld, and lo, a black horse: and he that sat on him, had a pair of balances in his hand.
Therefore shall her plagues come at one day; death, and sorrow, and hunger, and she shall be burnt with fire: for strong is the Lord God which judgeth her.
Morish
One of God's 'four sore judgements' which He in past times brought upon the earth, and which He has foretold will again be sent as a punishment. The most severe famines recorded in scripture are the two of seven years' duration, one in the time of Joseph, and the other in the days of Elisha. Ge 41:27-57; 2Ki 8:1-2: cf. Eze 14:21; Mt 24:7; Lu 21:11; Re 18:8. In speaking of the tribulations that will come upon Israel before the remnant of them are brought into blessing, Amos prophesies that there will be a famine of the 'words of Jehovah.' When judgements are falling on them, they will seek for some word from God for guidance and comfort; but will not find it: God will for a time leave them in darkness and perplexity. Am 8:11-12.
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Likewise, the seven thin and evil favored cows that came out after them, are seven years: and the seven empty and blasted ears shall be seven years of hunger. This is that which I said unto Pharaoh, that God doth show Pharaoh what he is about to do. read more. "Behold, there shall come seven years of great plenteousness throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of hunger. So that all the plenteousness shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt. And the hunger shall consume the land: so that the plenteousness shall not be once a seen in the land, by reason of that hunger that shall come after, for it shall be exceeding great. And as concerning that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh the second time, it betokeneth that the thing is certainly prepared of God, and that God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore, let Pharaoh provide for a man of understanding and wisdom, and set him over the land of Egypt. And let Pharaoh make officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years and let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the power of Pharaoh: that there may be food in the cities, and there let them keep it: that there may be food in store in the land, against the seven years of hunger which shall come in the land of Egypt, and that the land perish not through hunger." And the saying pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. Then said Pharaoh unto his servants, "Where shall we find such a man as this is, that hath the spirit of God in him?" Wherefore Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is no man of understanding nor of wisdom like unto thee. Thou therefore shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people obey: only in the king's seat will I be above thee." And he said unto Joseph, "Behold, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." And he took off his ring from his finger, and put it upon Joseph's finger, and he arrayed him in raiment of byss, and put a golden chain about his neck, and set him upon the best chariot that he had, save one. And they cried before him "Abrech!" And that Pharaoh had made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "I am Pharaoh; without thy will, shall no man lift up either his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." And he called Joseph's name Zaphenath-Paneah. And he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. Then went Joseph abroad in the land of Egypt. And he was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And then Joseph departed from Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years they made sheaves, and gathered up all the food of the seven plenteous years which were in the land of Egypt and put it into the cities. And he put the food of the fields that grew round about every city, even in the same. And Joseph laid up corn in store, like unto the sand of the sea in multitude out of measure, until he left numbering: For it was without number. And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of hunger came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-Pherah, priest of On, bare unto him. And he called the name of the first son Manasseh, "For God," said he, "hath made me forget all my labour and all my father's household." The second called he Ephraim, "For God," said he, "hath caused me to grow in the land of my trouble." And when the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt were ended, then came the seven years of dearth, according as Joseph had said. And the dearth was in all lands: but in the land of Egypt was there yet food. When now all the land of Egypt began to hunger, then cried the people to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said unto all Egypt, "Go unto Joseph, and what he saith to you, that do." And when the dearth was throughout all the land, Joseph opened all that was in the cities, and sold unto the Egyptians. And hunger waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came to Egypt, to Joseph, for to buy corn: because that the hunger was so sore in all lands.
Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD God: Though I send my four troublous plagues upon Jerusalem - the sword, hunger, perilous beasts, and pestilence, to destroy man and beast out of it -
"Behold, the time cometh," sayeth the LORD God, "that I shall send a hunger into the earth. Not the hunger of bread, nor the thirst of water: but a hunger to hear the word of the LORD. So that they shall go from the one sea to the other, yea from the north unto the east, running about to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm: and there shall be pestilence, and hunger, and earthquakes in all quarters.
and great earthquakes shall be in all quarters, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearful things. And great signs shall there be from heaven.
Therefore shall her plagues come at one day; death, and sorrow, and hunger, and she shall be burnt with fire: for strong is the Lord God which judgeth her.
Smith
Famine.
In the whole of Syria and Arabia, the fruits of the earth must ever be dependent on rain; the watersheds having few large springs, and the small rivers not being sufficient for the irrigation of even the level lands. If therefore the heavy rains of November and December fail, the sustenance of the people is cut off in the parching drought of harvest-time, when the country is almost devoid of moisture. Egypt, again, owes all its fertility to its mighty river, whose annual rise inundates nearly the whole land. The causes of dearth and famine in Egypt are defective inundation, preceded, accompanied and followed by prevalent easterly and southerly winds. Famine is likewise a natural result in the East when caterpillars, locusts or other insects destroy the products of the earth. The first famine recorded in the Bible is that of Abraham after he had pitched his tent on the east of Bethel,
the second in the days of Isaac,
seq. We hear no more of times of scarcity until the great famine of Egypt, which "was over all the face of the earth."
The modern history of Egypt throws some curious light on these ancient records of famines; and instances of their recurrence may be cited to assist us in understanding their course and extent. The most remarkable famine was that of the reign of the Fatimee Khaleefeh, El-Mustansir billah, which is the only instance on record of one of seven years duration in Egypt since the time of Joseph (A.H. 457-464, A.D. 1064-1071). Vehement drought and pestilence continued for seven consecutive years, so that the people ate corpses, and animals that died of themselves. The famine of Samaria resembled it in many particulars; and that very briefly recorded in
affords another instance of one of seven years. In Arabia famines are of frequent occurrence.
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After this there came a dearth in the land. And Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the dearth was sore in the land.
And there fell a dearth in the land, passing the first dearth that fell in the days of Abraham. Wherefore Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar.
And when the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt were ended, then came the seven years of dearth, according as Joseph had said. And the dearth was in all lands: but in the land of Egypt was there yet food. read more. When now all the land of Egypt began to hunger, then cried the people to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said unto all Egypt, "Go unto Joseph, and what he saith to you, that do." And when the dearth was throughout all the land, Joseph opened all that was in the cities, and sold unto the Egyptians. And hunger waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came to Egypt, to Joseph, for to buy corn: because that the hunger was so sore in all lands.
Then spake Elisha unto the woman whose son he had restored to life again, saying, "Up, and go both thou and thine house, and sojourn where thou thinkest best, for the LORD will call a dearth which shall come on the land seven years." And the woman arose and did after the saying of the man of God, and went both she and her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.