Aretas I

His name appeared on the oldest Nabataean inscription dating from 168 BC which was found at Halutza.

He is also mentioned in the deuterocanonical book 2 Maccabees (5:8).

This book presents how Jason, the High Priest of Israel who founded a Greek quarter in Jerusalem, was ordered to be held prisoner by Aretas I after being forced to leave Jerusalem because of the "shame of his conspiracy", 2 Maccabees (5:7).

He ended in Egypt, after he wrote to the Spartans.

This Middle Eastern history–related article is a stub.