The Nabataeans were a branch of Arabs who lived in the ancient Near East. They founded a kingdom that lasted from about 321 B.C. to 105 A.D. Nabataea existed in present-day Jordan. There are a number of archaeological sites of Nabataean culture, including Petra, which was the capital.
The Nabataeans were originally nomadic. They lived in the northern part of the Arabian peninsula and often raided and robbed caravans in the early days. But they eventually obtained so much wealth that it was no longer necessary to pursue this lifestyle. By about 312 B.C. the Nabataeans had settled down in Jordan and a section of what is now Saudi Arabia. They established their own kingdom.
Not much is known of the early time of Nabataea. The first king on record was Aretas I. His name appears on a carving that is dated to 168 B.C. It says that a man named Jason who was a high priest in Jerusalem was forced to flee the city because he had established a Hellenistic polis. Jason fled to Nabataea and was imprisoned by Aretas I.
The successor to Aretas I was his son Rabel I, who became king in 140 B.C. Not much is known about his reign. His name appears on a statue dedicated to him in Petra.
The next Nabataean king was Aretas II. His reign began in 120 or 110 B.C. Aretas II was a contemporary of the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus. The Hasmoneans were a dynasty of Judea that had overthrown Seleucid rule and made Judea an independent country. Alexander's expansionist policies were a threat to the Nabataean kingdom. Obodas I (also called Avdat) became king of Nabataea in 90 B.C. He defeated Alexander Jannaeus in a battle on the Golan Heights. The town of Aboda was named for the victor. He was worshipped as a god, even after his death.
Aretas III ascended the throne of Nabataea in 87 B.C. Under his rule more conflicts with the Hasmoneans occurred. Aretas III conquered Damascus. He then invaded the Hasmonean kingdom and defeated Alexander Jannaeus at Hadid. But Alexander retaliated by capturing Nabataean cities in Moab and attacking Bashan and Gilead. Alexander was succeeded by his wife Shlomtzion. After her death, her sons Aristobolus and Hyrcanus fought over the throne. Aristobolus won and became the next Hasmonean king.
Hyrcanus fled to Nabataea and made an alliance with Aretas III. In 65 B.C. the Nabataean army besieged Jerusalem. But the Romans intervened to stop this incursion. Aristobolus and Hyrcanus appealed to Pompey for help. Pompey sent an army under Scaurus to Jerusalem. The Nabataean troops withdrew. The next Nabataean king was Obodas II. Little is known of his reign. It is likely that he ruled for only a few years.
Malichus I (He was the son of Obodas II.) became the next Nabataean king. In 40 B.C. he helped the Parthians overrun Syria and Palestine. The Romans drove the Parthians out in 34 B.C. They (the Romans) confiscated Malichus's date orchards around Jericho and his harbors on the Red Sea. Herod also fought Malichus and defeated his army near Philadelphia (present-day Amman). Obodas III came to the throne of Nabataea in 30 B.C. and ruled until 9 B.C. Much cultural achievement was made in Nabataea during his reign. For example, many temples were built. Aretas IV ruled Nabataea from 9 B.C. until 40 A.D. He is generally regarded as the greatest of the Nabataean kings. During his reign religious centers were founded that also served as banks and clearinghouses. They were established in the Hauran, in Petra, and in Avdat. Aretas IV's daughter married Herod Antipas. Herod Antipas was the tetrarch of Galilee and was subordinate to the Romans who had control of the area.
Antipas then married another woman. Her name was Herodias and she was the wife of his half brother Philip. This angered Aretas IV's daughter and she went home to her father in Nabataea.
Aretas IV went to war with Herod and defeated him in a major battle. Herod appealed to Tiberius the Roman emperor for help. Tiberius sent the governor of Syria with an army to attack Aretas IV. But Aretas IV was able to hold his own and Nabataea stayed independent.
One thing should be mentioned in relation to Herod's marriage to Herodias. John the Baptist openly denounced Herod's action. He proclaimed that Herod was a sinner. This resulted in the death of John the Baptist. Herod had a banquet in which Salome, the daughter of his new wife Herodias, danced before him. She pleased him and then asked that the head of John the Baptist be brought before her. This grisly task was performed.
Malichus II was the next monarch to rule Nabataea. He ruled from 40 to 70 A.D. During his reign Nabataean power decreased. The Romans had diverted the routes of spice and perfume cargo shipments to Egypt. As a result, Nabataea lost a lot of revenue. Rome was extremely powerful and Malichus was very willing to cooperate with the Romans. In 66 A.D. a Jewish revolt occurred in Judea. Malichus sent 5,000 cavalry and 1,000 infantry to help Titus crush the rebellion. To use an American expression, Malichus was following the philosophy that "If you can't beat them, join them."
Rabel II ruled Nabataea from 70 A.D. to 105 A.D. He was the last Nabataean king. After his death, the Roman emperor Trajan annexed Nabataea. It became part of a new province called Provincia Arabia.

Neal Robbins