Aretas I

Aretas I (; ; ) was 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 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. The king's name as transcribed in Arabic is , or , stemming from Harith which means "the collector, provider; Plowman; Cultivator".