Now there was a faminein the daysof Davidfor threeyears,yearafteryear;and Davidsoughtthe presenceof the LORD.And the LORDsaid,"It is for Sauland his bloodyhouse,becausehe putthe Gibeonitesto death."
Now there was a faminein the land;so Abramwentdownto Egyptto sojournthere,for the faminewas severein the land.
Now there was a faminein the land,besidesthe previousfaminethat had occurredin the daysof Abraham.So Isaacwentto Gerar,to Abimelechkingof the Philistines.
[The people of] allthe earthcameto Egyptto buygrainfrom Joseph,becausethe faminewas severein allthe earth.
So the sonsof Israelcameto buygrainamongthose who were coming,for the faminewas in the landof Canaan[also].
Now the faminewas severein the land.
"The LORDhas returnedupon you allthe bloodshedof the houseof Saul,in whoseplaceyou have reigned;and the LORDhas giventhe kingdominto the handof your sonAbsalom.And behold,you are [taken] in your own evil,for you are a manof bloodshed!"
and Irathe Jairitewas alsoa priestto David.
So they saidto the king,"The manwhoconsumedus and whoplannedto exterminateus from remainingwithin anyborderof Israel,
Now againthe angerof the LORDburnedagainst Israel,and it incitedDavidagainst them to say,"Go,numberIsraeland Judah."
Then Davidinquiredof the LORD,saying,"Shall I goup againstthe Philistines?Will You givethem into my hand?"And the LORDsaidto David,"Goup, for I will certainlygivethe Philistinesinto your hand."
When Davidinquiredof the LORD,He said,"You shall not go[directly] up; circlearoundbehindthem and comeat them in frontof the balsamtrees.
Now Elijahthe Tishbite,who was of the settlersof Gilead,saidto Ahab,"As the LORD,the Godof Israellives,beforewhomI stand,surelythere shall be neitherdewnor raintheseyears,exceptby my word."
So Elijahwentto showhimself to Ahab.Now the famine[was] severein Samaria.
There was a greatfaminein Samaria;and behold,they besiegedit, untila donkey'sheadwas soldfor eighty[shekels] of silver,and a fourthof a kabof dove'sdungfor five[shekels] of silver.
Now Elishaspoketo the womanwhosesonhe had restoredto life,saying,"Ariseand gowith your household,and sojournwhereveryou can sojourn;for the LORDhas calledfor a famine,and it will evencomeon the landfor sevenyears."
"I will sayto God,Do not condemnme; Let me knowwhyYou contendwith me.
[When You said], "SeekMy face,"my heartsaidto You, "Your face,O LORD,I shall seek."
Callupon Me in the dayof trouble;I shall rescueyou, and you will honorMe."
"He will callupon Me, and I will answerhim; I will be with him in trouble;I will rescuehim and honorhim.
When I breakyour staffof bread,tenwomenwill bakeyour breadin oneoven,and they will bringbackyour breadin rationedamounts,so that you will eatand not be satisfied.
"Moreover, he shall standbeforeEleazarthe priest,who shall inquirefor him by the judgmentof the Urimbeforethe LORD.At his commandthey shall goout and at his commandthey shall comein, [both] he and the sonsof Israelwith him, even allthe congregation."
But the sonsof Israelactedunfaithfullyin regard to the thingsunderthe ban,for Achan,the sonof Carmi,the sonof Zabdi,the sonof Zerah,from the tribeof Judah,tooksomeof the thingsunderthe ban,therefore the angerof the LORDburnedagainst the sonsof Israel.
"Thiswe will doto them, even let them live,sothat wrathwill not be upon us for the oathwhichwe sworeto them."
Now it cameabout in the dayswhen the judgesgoverned,that there was a faminein the land.And a certain manof Bethlehemin Judahwentto sojournin the landof Moabwith his wifeand his twosons.
Therefore they inquiredfurtherof the LORD,"Has the mancomehereyet?"So the LORDsaid,"Behold,he is hidinghimselfby the baggage."
"Will the menof Keilahsurrenderme into his hand?Will Saulcomedownjustas Your servanthas heard?O LORDGodof Israel,I pray,tellYour servant."And the LORDsaid,"He will comedown."
So Davidinquiredof the LORD,saying,"Shall I goand attackthesePhilistines?"And the LORDsaidto David,"Goand attackthe Philistinesand deliverKeilah."
Then Davidinquiredof the LORDoncemore.And the LORDansweredhim and said,"Arise,godownto Keilah,for I will givethe Philistinesinto your hand."
