The moral compass of anyone at the head of a system dictates the character of those who serve under them. When corruption and injustice are accepted at the top, they inevitably trickle down, ruining the entire structure and turning everyone involved into partners in crime. The primary approach among commentators is that when a ruler willingly listens to falsehoods, the subordinates quickly understand that the only way to win their master's favor is to adopt his corrupt ways. As a result, they begin to weave plots, spread gossip, and present false claims [רלב״ג, אלשיך, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].
A leader's moral flaw does not remain a private issue; rather, it creates an entire circle of criminals around him. For this reason, throughout the Bible, the ultimate blame is most often placed on the leaders [שטיינזלץ]. The ruler actually bears a double guilt. He is the direct cause of his servants learning from his bad example, and he also drives them to act wickedly just to carry out his commands [עמנואל הרומי]. This follows the general rule that servants are inevitably shaped in the image of their master [אמרי דעת].
Alongside the political explanation, an allegorical approach views this dynamic as an internal psychological process. The ruler represents the human intellect or heart. When a person allows their mind to entertain falsehoods and be controlled by physical desires, all of their internal "servants"—the various mental faculties, ideas, and thoughts—also become wicked. They mobilize to serve these physical cravings, feeding the heart with negative moods, thoughts of hatred, and schemes to satisfy basic urges [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם].
A completely different perspective takes this concept into the realm of astrology. In this view, the ruler is the central star dominating a specific day or night. When this star carries a negative or harmful influence, its "servants"—the other stars sharing control during those hours—also become agents of harm. Even if these secondary stars are good by nature, they are powerless to cancel out the damage dictated by the ruling star. Therefore, as long as the dominant star remains in power, the secondary stars are also considered harmful forces [עמנואל הרומי].