Famine
“Hunger, whether of individuals or nations”
Summary
A severe shortage of food often resulting from drought, locust plagues, or warfare, frequently sent by God as a judgment upon sin and prophesied as a sign of the end times.
☩Causes of Famine
In Syria and Arabia, the fruits of the earth depend entirely on rain; if the heavy rains of November and December fail, sustenance is cut off during the parching drought of harvest-time. Egypt depends on the Nile's annual overflow, and defective inundation causes scarcity. Famines were also caused by destructive hailstorms, ravages of insects such as locusts, enemies during warfare, and city sieges.
☩Biblical Famines
Scripture records famines in the time of Abraham, Isaac, and the seven-year famine during Joseph's governance of Egypt which affected 'all the face of the earth.' Other famines occurred during the Judges, under David for three years, in Ahab and Elijah's time, and during sieges of Samaria and Jerusalem. The famine predicted by Agabus during Claudius's reign severely affected Palestine around 45 AD.
☩Divine Purpose and Prophecy
Famines are frequently said to be sent as punishments and sometimes threatened as such. The righteous are promised preservation: 'In famine he will redeem thee from death.' Christ predicted famines in various places as signs of the end of the age. Amos prophesied a famine of hearing the words of the Lord, when people will seek guidance from God but not find it.
Related Verses119 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Famine," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Famine," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Famine," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Famine," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 5.George Morrish, "Famine," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).