False witnesses did rise up,.... Against David, saying he sought the hurt of Saul, Sa1 24:9, as did against David's antitype, the Lord Jesus Christ, Mat 26:59; and against his apostles, Act 24:5; and very frequently do they rise up and bear false witness against his people, which is a very heinous crime; they laid to my charge things that I knew not: such as David was not conscious of, never thought of doing, much less attempted to do; as the taking away of Saul's life, the contrary of which appeared by his cutting off his skirt only when he was in his hands, and taking away his spear from his bolster when he could have taken off his head; and such were the things laid to the charge of the Messiah, David's son, who knew no sin, nor did any; and the like are exhibited against his members, who go through good report and bad report, and whose good conversation is falsely accused by malicious men.