Archaeologica.org

Posted: **Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:51 pm**

From Dr. Jim West's Blog

http://jwest.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/h ... the-negev/

An important archaeological and historical discovery: the Hasmoneans also controlled the Negev. Researchers at the Israel Antiquities Authority are currently processing finds from archaeological excavations at sites located along the “Incense Road” in the Negev that were previously excavated by Dr. Rudolph Cohen ז”ל of the Department of Antiquities.

Posted: **Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:34 am**

Economic warfare!
The Romans would have just taxed the traffic and let it pass.
But the Hasmoneans wanted to put the Nabataeans out of business.

Posted: **Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:41 am**

Absolutely, kb. Not only the Romans but the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians had managed to control the Arabian trade and all made a pile of money off of it.

For the Hasmoneans it was a vital national interest as Herod the Great had not yet built the port of Caesarea so the nation could get in on the lucrative sea-based trade.

Archaeologica.org

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A Little Tidbit on First Century BC Politics in the Negev

Re: A Little Tidbit on First Century BC Politics in the Negev

Re: A Little Tidbit on First Century BC Politics in the Negev