Jewish tradition certainly sees patterns in the past, especially when it comes to times of hardship.
We find a fascinating example of this in Bereshit Rabbah 64, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis. It explores a verse from Proverbs (10:3): "The Lord will not starve the soul of the righteous." It connects this to Isaac, reminding us of the verse "Reside in this land," and contrasts it with "And He averts the devastation of the wicked," which is connected to Avimelekh. Then, almost immediately, the text pivots to a far broader topic: famine.
The Rabbis identify ten distinct famines that have struck the world throughout history. Ten! That's a lot of empty plates. Let's take a look at them, according to Bereshit Rabbah:
* One during the time of Adam, when the ground was cursed (Genesis 3:17). * One during the time of Lemekh, stemming from the same cursed ground (Genesis 5:29). * One during the time of Abraham, which drove him down to Egypt (Genesis 12:10). * One during the time of Isaac, our initial point of reference. * One during the time of Jacob, mentioned when his sons traveled to Egypt for grain (Genesis 45:6). * One during the period of the Judges, as recounted in the Book of Ruth (Ruth 1:1). * One during the time of Elijah, a severe drought brought on by the prophet's decree (I Kings 17:1). * One during the time of David (II Samuel 21:1). * One during the time of Elisha, so severe that desperate measures were taken (II Kings 6:25). * And finally, one that is "progressing and coming to the world," plus one in the future, echoing the prophet Amos's warning of a famine "not for bread, not [a] thirst for water, but to hear the words of the Lord" (Amos 8:11).
Rabbi Shmuel bar Nahman offers an interesting perspective: he suggests that the brunt of these famines should have occurred during Saul's reign, but because Saul was descended from a "frail" sycamore tree, God shifted the burden to the time of David. It's a curious image, implying that some generations are better equipped to handle hardship than others.
But then comes a challenging question: "Shila sinned and Yoḥana is punished?" In other words, how can one person's sin lead to another's suffering? Rabbi Ḥiyya Rabba answers with a parable. Imagine a glazier carefully transporting delicate glassware. To hang the basket, he uses a strong peg, one that can bear the weight. Likewise, catastrophes befall those who can withstand them—the "mighty people," as the text puts it. Rabbi Berekhya connects this to David's generation, citing Isaiah 40:29: "He gives strength to the weary."
There's some debate among the Rabbis about the specifics. Rabbi Ḥelbo claims two famines occurred during Abraham's time, while Rabbi Aḥa distinguishes between the famine during Abraham's time and one during Lemekh's. The text further elaborates on the nature of some of these famines: the one during Elijah's time was a drought, while the one during Elisha's time was marked by panic and exorbitant prices.
Finally, the passage touches upon the famine during the time of the Judges, drawing a parallel to the story of Elimelekh in the Book of Ruth. Rabbi Huna, citing Rabbi Aḥa, describes the economic hardship of the time. However, this leads to a discussion about leaving the Land of Israel during times of scarcity. Rabbi Shimon clarifies that emigration is only permitted when food is completely unavailable. Elimelekh, who left the land, was punished for it, along with his sons.
So, what are we to make of this list of famines? Is it simply a historical record of hard times? Or is it a reminder that these cycles of hardship are intertwined with human actions, divine responses, and the enduring question of how we cope with adversity? Perhaps the most haunting aspect of this teaching is the famine that is "progressing and coming to the world." It serves as a stark reminder that the challenges of scarcity, both material and spiritual, are never truly behind us. They demand constant vigilance, compassion, and a willingness to learn from the past so that we might build a more just and sustainable future.