Indeed they did more, for on the first night after our coming they slaughtered a bull marked much as Apis is, and in the morning we found it lying near the gate of the camp, and pinned to its hide with sharp thorns great numbers of the scarabaeus beetle still living.

For again they did not know that among us Egyptians this beetle is no god but an emblem of the Creator, because it rolls a ball of mud between its feet and sets therein its eggs to hatch, as the Creator rolls the world that seems to be round, and causes it to produce life.
Now all were angry at these insults except the Prince, who laughed and said that he thought the jest coarse but clever.

But worse was to happen.

It seems that a soldier with wine in him had done insult to a Hebrew maiden who came alone to draw water at a canal.

The news spread among the people and some thousands of them rushed to the camp, shouting and demanding vengeance in so threatening a manner that it was necessary to form up the regiments of guards.
The Prince being summoned commanded that the girl and her kin should be admitted and state their case.