“Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. enquired: Heb. sought the face, etc”
Hebrew, sought the face of the Lord. Hebrew, year after year. Thinking to gratify the people, because these were not of the seed of Abraham.