Category:Trachonitis

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Trachonitis - A rugged region, corresponds to the Heb. Argob (q.v.), the Greek name of a region on the east of Jordan (Luke 3:1); one of the five Roman provinces into which that district was divided. It was in the tetrarchy of of Philip, and is now called the Lejah.

-- Caesar Augustus granted Herod the port of Gaza along with Trachonitis, Bathanitis, and Hauranitis, which were part of the 'King's Highway' across the Trans-Jordan (the area east of the Jordan River known as Gilead in the Bible) to Damascus. It was considered a financial gain for Herod's treasury, as there were 65 caravan stops, which would have included collection of custom duties.