Some scholars believe the site had been used by Greek mercenaries in the employ of the Judaean king in his battles against the Egyptian army. But there were also Judahite mercenaries in the Egyptian army at the time of the late monarchic period. According to Israel Finkelstein, "it is therefore quite reasonable that the unit stationed in the Egyptian fort of Messad Hashavyahu included Judahite mercenaries". Others, such as Israel Finkelstein and Nadav Naaman, believe this site was controlled by the Egyptians and not Josiah: "in any event, regarding Mesad Hashavyahu, there can be little doubt that Egypt, which expanded in the late 7th century [BCE] along the coast of the Levant, was strong enough to prevent Josiah from building an isolated fort in the middle of an area in which Egypt had st