Occasion (or Result) of Famine*

Cause of Famine

Reference

Abram and Sarai travel to Egypt

(not given)

Gen 12:10

Isaac (and Family) settle in Gerar

(not given)

Gen 26:1

Joseph brought to power in Egypt

(not given)

Gen 41:25–57; Psalm 105:16; Acts 7:11

Elimelech, Naomi and Sons settle in Moab

(not given)

Ruth 1:1

Three-year famine in the time of David

Judgment for Saul’s bloodguilt regarding the Gibeonites

2 Sam 21:1

Famine in Northern Kingdom in the time of Elijah and Ahab

Judgment against Ahab’s idolatry (1 Kgs 16:29–33)

1 Kgs 17:1; 18:1–2; Luke 4:25

Famine in the time of Elisha

(not given)

2 Kgs 4:38

Ben-hadad’s seige of Samaria in the time of Elisha

Siege

2 Kgs 6:24–25

Famine in the time of Isaiah†

Siege (poetic description)

Isa 51:19

Famine in the time of Jeremiah

Siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians

Jer 44:13; 52:6; Lam 5:10

Famine in the time of Ezekiel (predictive utterance)

Siege brought by God’s judgment (Ezek 14:13)

Ezek 7:15

Famine in the time of Joel‡

Drought or locusts (Joel 1:4)

Joel 1:10–12

Famine in the time of Amos‡

God’s judgment for Israel’s unfaithfulness

Amos 4:6–9

Hunger in the time of Nehemiah

Heavy taxation and interest

Neh 5:1–13

Famine in the time of Claudius (Paul visits Jerusalem)

(not given)

Acts 11:27–30; 12:25