Page:Early Christianity in Arabia.djvu/91

Rh of Naaman were laid waste and plundered by the Arabian allies of Rome, and himself compelled to seek shelter in the desert; from thence he fled into Persia, and joined the forces of the great king. Enraged at his defeat he used all his interest to persuade Kobad to turn his arms against Syria. But in a conflict between the Persians and Romans under Fabricius, the Arab chief received a dangerous wound on his head, which he only survived a few days, dying before the expedition against Edessa set out. Kobad, having placed a new king over the Arabians, proceeded to Tela, which, being obstinately defended, he left, and went on to Edessa, fixing his camp for twenty days on the river Galabus (the modern Jáláb). From Edessa he led his army against the city of Haran, but the citizens, in a sudden attack on the besiegers, made a great slaughter of the Arabs, and took prisoner the leader of the Huns, who was released on the promise of the Persian monarch to raise the siege. Kobad returned to continue the siege of Edessa, which had been reinforced by supplies under Patricciolus.

Amongst the first monks who were active in