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.
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.
Now the faminewas severein the land.
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."
So Elijahwentto showhimself to Ahab.Now the famine[was] severein Samaria.
Salmathe fatherof Bethlehem[and] Harephthe fatherof Beth-gader.
The sonsof Salma[were] Bethlehemand the Netophathites,Atroth-beth-joaband halfof the Manahathites,the Zorites.
And He calledfor a famineupon the land;He brokethe wholestaffof bread.
A fruitfullandinto a saltwaste,Becauseof the wickednessof those who dwellin it.
That whichcameas the wordof the LORDto Jeremiahin regardto the drought:
"Sonof man,ifa countrysinsagainst Me by committingunfaithfulness,and I stretchout My handagainstit, destroyits supplyof bread,sendfamineagainst it and cutofffrom it both manand beast,
For thussaysthe LordGOD,"HowmuchmorewhenI sendMy fourseverejudgmentsagainstJerusalem:sword,famine,wildbeastsand plagueto cutoffmanand beastfrom it!
I will also breakdownyour prideof power;I will also makeyour skylike ironand your earthlike bronze.
"But I gaveyou alsocleannessof teethin allyour citiesAnd lackof breadin allyour places,Yet you have not returnedto Me," declaresthe LORD.
"But as for you, BethlehemEphrathah,[Too] littleto be among the clansof Judah,From you One will goforthfor Me to be rulerin Israel.His goingsforthare from longago,From the daysof eternity."
"You shall bringout muchseedto the fieldbut you will gatherin little,for the locustwill consumeit.
Now Ibzanof BethlehemjudgedIsraelafterhim.
Now there was a youngmanfrom Bethlehemin Judah,of the familyof Judah,whowas a Levite;and he was stayingthere.
Then the mandepartedfrom the city,from Bethlehemin Judah,to staywhereverhe might find[a place]; and as he madehis journey,he cameto the hillcountryof Ephraimto the houseof Micah.
