The first famines mentioned in the Bible are those which occurred in the times of Abraham and Isaac (Gn 12'° 26'). In the first case, Abra- ham went down into Egypt to sojourn there ; in the second case, Isaac was about to do the same, but, being warned by God, went to Gerar to reside with Abimelech, king of the PhUistines. It rii.iy be a.ssumed that these famines were only partial in their extent.
The famine which took place in the time of Jacob was one of great extent, as it included Syria, Egypt, and the sources of the Nile, and was one of great severity and long duration ; it is recorded that ' there was famine in all lands ' (Gn 41"). It lasted seven years, and was remark- able as having been preceded by seven years of plenty, which being foretold by .Joseph, the Egyp. Government was enabled to gather up sufluicnt corn, not only to buy up all the lands and cattle of the Egj'ptians and to supjily the people, but also to sell com to foreigners. ' And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy com ; because the famine was sore in all the earth' (Gn 41"). It is to be noted, however, that tliis is a famine re.strictcd to want of com, and that there is no indication that there was great want of pa.sturage. The .fons of .lacob were able to take their a.xses to and from Egj-pt without dilliciiltj-. Wag;,'on8 were sent to bring up Jacob and his households. •And their father Israel said unto them. If it be so
now, do this ; take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery, and mj-rrh, nuts and almonds' (Gn 43"). 'And they took their cattle, and their goods, wliich they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt' (Gn46«).
I'amines are mentioned in the time of the judges (Ru 1'), and in the time of king David (2 S 21'), but it is not until the time of Elijah that any account is given of the failure of the pasturage and springs. 'Theie shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word' (1 K 17'). ' And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go through the land, unto all tne fountains of water, and unto all the brooks : peradventure we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts' (18'). Amongst the signs of the end in Jesus' eschatological discourse are ' famines in divers places' (Mt 24', Mk 13', Lk21"). For the famine referred to in Ac 11^, see Claudius.
ii. A graphic description of destruction of crops by hail is given Ex 9^- "• '" ' The LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the eartli ; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egj-pt.' ' And the tiax and the barley were smitten, for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was boiled. But tne wheat and the spelt were not smitten ; for they were not grown up.' The unusual occurrence of thunder and rain in the time of wlie.it harvest is accentuated in 1 S 12".
iii. The eflect of tlie destruction of crops by plagues of locusts is depicted Ex 10" ' For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened ; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail liad left ; and there remained not any green tiling, either tree or herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt.' Again, Jl l* ' That which the palmer-worm hath left hath the locust eaten ; and that which the locust hath left hath the canker-worm eaten ; and that wliich the canker- worm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.' (See Driver, ad loc.)
iv. The most terrible results of famine related in the Bible are due to the hand of man ; and this was well recognized by king David. 'And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait ; let us fall now into the hand of the LoliD ; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man^ (2 S 24'^). ' And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy ground, until thou be destroyed : wliich also shall not leave thee com, wine, or oU, the increase of thy kine, or the young of thy flock, until he have caused thee to perish ' (Dt 28"). ' And thou shalt eat the fmit of thine own body, the llesh of thy sons, and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall straiten thee' (v."). 'And there was a great famine in Samaria : and, be- hold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourtli part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver ' (2 K 0-°). 'Aiid.->iie answered, 'l^iis woman said unto me. Give thy son, that we may eat him to-day, and we « ill eat my son tonionow ' (v.^).