שמואל א, פרק י״ח, פסוק ט״ז

Public adoration for David swept across the nation, breaking through all tribal and social divides. The affection was so widespread that even the tribe of Benjamin, King Saul's own family line, joined the tribe of Judah in their devotion to David. The entire nation united as a single entity, bound together by their wholehearted, cohesive love for him [חומת אנך].

This deep admiration grew because the public witnessed David's great success firsthand. They watched him lead effectively, both as a brilliant military commander and as a capable manager of other areas of daily life [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. By actively stepping out to guide and protect the people, David practically embodied the exact kind of leadership the Israelites had originally requested when they first asked for a king. In him, they saw the perfect fulfillment of their vision [חומת אנך].

This overwhelming public support directly shifted the balance of power. With the entire nation standing firmly behind David, Saul found himself completely powerless to harm him. Left with no ability to act against his rival, Saul's profound sense of helplessness only fueled a deeper, more consuming jealousy and hatred [מלבי״ם].