Antiochus, with his army, came and encamped before <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sidon&groupId=977&placeId=491">Sidon</a>.
He refrained from making any attempt on the town, owing to the abundance of supplies with which it was furnished and the numbers of its inhabitants and of the forces which had taken refuge in it, but taking his army, marched himself on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Philoteria&groupId=889&placeId=462">Philoteria</a>, ordering the admiral Diognetus to sail back to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tyre&groupId=1053&placeId=1855">Tyre</a> with the fleet.
<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Philoteria&groupId=889&placeId=462">Philoteria</a> lies off the shore of the lake into which the river <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Jordan&groupId=1080&placeId=418">Jordan</a> falls, and from which it issues again to traverse the plains round <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Scythopolis&groupId=959&placeId=280">Scythopolis</a>.
Having obtained possession of both the above cities, which came to terms with him, he felt confident in the success of his future operations, as the territory subject to them was easily capable of supplying his whole army with food, and of furnishing everything necessary for the expedition in abundance.
Having secured both by garrisons, he crossed the mountainous country and reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Atabyrium&groupId=376&placeId=708">Atabyrium</a>, which lies on a conical hill, the ascent of which is more than fifteen stades.
By an ambuscade and a stratagem employed during the ascent he managed to take this city too:
for having provoked the garrison to sally out and skirmish, he entice those of them who were in advance to follow his own retreating troops for a considerable distance down hill, and then turning the latter round and advancing, he attacked the enemy and killed many of them;
and finally following close on them and throwing them into panic took this city also by assault.
At this time Ceraeas, one of Ptolemy's officers, deserted to him, and by his distinguished treatment of him he turned the head of many of the enemy's commanders.
It was not long indeed before Hippolochus the Thessalian came to join him with four hundred horse who were in Ptolemy's service.
After garrisoning <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Atabyrium&groupId=376&placeId=708">Atabyrium</a> also, he advanced and took <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pella&groupId=1089&placeId=1913">Pella</a>, Camus, and Gephrus.
Walbank Commentary