Nehemiah's response to the accusations is brief and dismissive: "Then I sent word to him, 'No such things as you say have been done; you are just making them up out of your own mind.'" The refusal to accept the legitimacy of the accusations indicates Nehemiah's confidence that the charges are fabricated and will not be believed by those who know him or understand the actual nature of the restoration work. The phrase "out of your own mind" suggests that Sanballat has invented the accusations as a tactic rather than responding to actual evidence. Nehemiah's brief response indicates his refusal to engage in a debate about accusations he considers obviously false; he will not dignify the charges with a detailed rebuttal.

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