See what I do is, any events where you get a choice between 2 Citizens or 4 Slaves from Egypt, take the citizens. Switch to a appeasing stance as soon as, and improve opinion with Egypt. And when you start expanding leave Philistine alone. Egypt likes it for some reason.



Before Phyrgia implodes (a month before) cancel tribute, so you don’t get dragged into the rebellion.



For conquest your first target should be Samaria. It’s small and easy to overrun. Then Nabatea, try to take it all of you can. If you do, you get a southern port, and more importantly Camels.



Your military at first should focus on CHEAP. First thing to do is get rid of the Heavy Cavalry, they are far to expensive. Just spam out Light Infantry at first, and as your eco improves, add archers, and when you get them Camelry. With Judea eco at start, you can afford up to 20k of Light Infantry on normal maintenance. That is enough to overrun Samaria. As long as they don’t get pretenders raising an army of their own.



Focus on expanding into Phyrgia lands, or what was Phyrgia land. Lots of pops, lots of potential slaves. Keep doing that, and when you eventually go to war with Egypt, be ready for a long and hard struggle.