en_tn/2sa/21/01.md

three years

See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/biblicaltimeyear

sought the face of Yahweh

This means David prayed to Yahweh for an answer about the famine. "Face" represents the presence of the other. (See: (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

because of Saul and his murderous family

Saul had killed many Gibeonites. Saul's descendants are guilty because of this sin.