and here it is commanded on the one side by a place called Broch and on the other by <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gerrha&groupId=601&placeId=1111">Gerrha</a>, the passage between being quite narrow.
After marching through this defile for several days and reducing the towns in its neighbourhood, Antiochus reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gerrha&groupId=601&placeId=1111">Gerrha</a>.
Finding that Theodotus the Aetolian had occupied <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gerrha&groupId=601&placeId=1111">Gerrha</a> and Brochi and had fortified the narrow passage by the lake with a trench and stockade, posting troops in suitable spots, he at first decided to force his way through,
but as he suffered more loss than he inflicted owing to the strength of the position and the fact that Theodotus remained as staunch as ever, he desisted from the attempt.
So that finding himself in this difficult position, when the news reached him that Xenoetas had suffered total defeat and that Molon was in possession of all the upper provinces he gave up this expedition and hastened to return to the relief of his own dominions.
For Xenoetas, when, as I stated above, he was appointed to independent command and found himself possessed of more authority than he had ever expected to hold, began to treat his friends somewhat disdainfully and to be too audacious in his schemes against his enemies.
Reaching, however, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a> and sending for Diogenes, the governor of Susiana, and Pythiades, the governor of the coasts of the Persian Gulf, he led out his forces and encamped opposite the enemy with the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tigris&groupId=255&placeId=510">Tigris</a> on his front.
When numerous deserters swam over from Molon\'s camp and informed him that if he crossed the river, Molon\'s whole army would declare for him — for the soldiers were jealous of Molon and exceedingly well disposed to the king — Xenoetas, encouraged by this intelligence, decided to cross the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tigris&groupId=255&placeId=510">Tigris</a>.
He first of all made a show of attempting to bridge the river at a place where it forms an island, but as he was not getting ready any of the material required for this purpose, Molon took little notice of the feint.
Xenoetas, however, was all the time engaged in collecting and fitting out boats with all possible care.
Selecting from his whole army the most courageous of the infantry and cavalry, he left Zeuxis and Pythiades in charge of the camp, and proceeded by night to a point about eighty stades below Molon's camp,
where he took his forces safely across in the boats and encamped while it was still night on an advantageous position, the great part of which was surrounded by the river and the rest protected by pools and marshes.
Walbank Commentary