letter stated that it was reported among the heathen (and that Geshem was saying) that the Jews were building the wall that they might rebel against the king of Persia and make Nehemiah their king and that Nehemiah had already appointed prophets to proclaim himself the new king of Judah. In conclusion, Sanballat threatened to report these things to the Persian king unless Nehemiah agreed to confer with him. Nehemiah answered Sanballat, denying the charges made in Sanballat’s letter and charging Sanballat