Tyre and Sidon obtained their corn and provisions from Palestine. Hence when a dispute arose (perhaps over some commercial or tariff question), Herod forbade the exportation of corn to Tyre and Sidon. Famine prices prevailed, and the cities were obliged to come to terms. They 'persuaded' Blastus (AV 'made him their friend'), probably by a bribe, and desired 'peace,' i.e. a cessation of the tariff war.

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