Aretas I (
Arabic:
حارثة, Harthah) is the first known
King of the Nabataeans. His name appeared on the oldest Nabataean inscription dating from
168 BC which was found at
Halutza. He is also mentioned in the
Apocrypha (
2 Maccabees 5:8). This book presents how
Jason, the grand priest who founded a Greek quarter in
Jerusalem, was held prisoner by Aretas I after being forced to leave Jerusalem.
Sources disagree on his successor's identity :
Source