The consequence of this series of successes was that the Arab tribes in the neighbourhood, inciting each other to this step, unanimously adhered to him.
Strengthened by the prospect of their help and by the supplies with which they furnished him, he advanced and occupying <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Galatis&groupId=597&placeId=1107">Galatis</a>, made himself master also of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Abila&groupId=267&placeId=522">Abila</a> and the force which had come to assist in its defence under the command of Nicias, a close friend and relative of Menneas.
<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gadara&groupId=593&placeId=380">Gadara</a> still remained, a town considered to be the strongest in that district, and sitting down before it and bringing siege batteries to bear on it he very soon terrified it into submission.
In the next place, hearing that a considerable force of the enemy was collected at Rabbatama in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Arabia&groupId=349&placeId=671">Arabia</a> and was occupied in overrunning and pillaging the country of the Arabs who had joined him, he dismissed all other projects and starting off at once encamped under the hill on which the town lies.
After making a circuit of the hill and observing that it was only accessible at two spots, he approached it there and chose those places for setting up his battering engines.
Placing some of them in charge of Nicarchus and others under Theodotus, he devoted himself henceforth to directing and superintending their respective activities.
Both Theodotus and Nicarchus displayed the greatest zeal, and there was continuous rivalry as to which would first cast down the wall in front of his machines; so that very shortly and before it was expected, the wall gave way in both places. After this they kept delivering assaults both by night and day, neglecting no opportunity and employing all their force.
Notwithstanding these frequent attempts they met with no success owing to the strength of the force collected in the town, until a prisoner revealed to them the position of the underground passage by which the besieged went down to draw water. This they burst into and filled it up with wood, stones, and all such kinds of things,
upon which those in the city yielded owing to the want of water and surrendered.
Having thus got possession of Rabbatama, Antiochus left Nicarchus in it with an adequate garrison, and now sending the revolted leaders Hippolochus and Ceraeas with a force of five thousand foot to the district of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Samaria&groupId=941&placeId=81">Samaria</a>, with orders to protect the conquered territory and assure the safety of all the troops he had left in it,
he returned with his army to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ptolemais&groupId=918&placeId=271">Ptolemais</a>, where he had decided to pass the winter.
Walbank Commentary