1 Samuel 24:9

Men’s words. Notice how kindly and tenderly David addressed the king. Instead of blaming Saul for all the king’s actions, David looked back to the influence of false tongues, dripping with the malice of self-interest, which urged the king on and used him to their own advantage. That Saul was affected by such tongues may be inferred from chapter 22:7. Like Saul, many a leader has about him a company of men who are with him because of the loaves and fishes. The safety of their position depends on the patronage they can give the leader in power. If a change of administration should come, they would be without support. The henchmen of Saul had cast aside the mounting evidence of God’s protecting care over David. They had paid no attention to Jonathan’s estimate of the “son of Jesse.” Though many were convinced of the errors of Saul’s acts, yet for personal reasons they patronized him and blackened David’s name (see Psalm 55:3; Psalm 56:5, 6; Psalm 57:4; etc.). The fact that David was of another tribe may have had something to do with the evil reports that were spread around.