During the 1600s and 1700s, the fundamental goal of british mercantilism was to
(1)prohibit all exports of raw materials from the colonies
(2)encourage economic competition with the american colonies
(3)develop manufacturing within the colonies
(4)maintain a favorable balance of trade for great britain with its colonies

the lachish letters were written by hoshaiah, a military officer stationed possibly in mareshah,   and sent to yaush, possibly the commanding officer at lachish.

the series of letters were written in carbon ink in ancient hebrew on clay ostraca, shortly before lachish fell to the babylonian army of king nebuchadnezzar in 588/6 bc during the reign of zedekiah, king of judah.