Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Famine

The first mentioned in Scripture was so grievous as to compel Abraham to go down to the land of Egypt (Genesis 26:1 ). Another is mentioned as having occurred in the days of Isaac, causing him to go to Gerar (Genesis 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 4145-45 ).

Famines were sent as an effect of God's anger against a guilty people (2 Kings 8:1,2; Amos 8:11; Deuteronomy 28:22-42; 2 Samuel 21:1; 2 Kings 6:25-28; 25:3; Jeremiah 14:15; 19:9; 42:17 , etc.). A famine was predicted by Agabus (Acts 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.