Why David Begged God Not to Kill Doeg and Ahithophel

[(Genesis 11:1:) "Now the whole earth had one language."] This is what Scripture says (in Psalms 59:12): "Do not kill them, lest my people forget; make them wander by Your power and bring them down." Concerning whom did David speak this verse? He spoke it concerning none other than Doeg and Ahithophel. David said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the World, do not kill them by the killing with which You kill the rest of the children of men, but rather "make them wander by Your power," that they should be tossed about in the world; "and bring them down," and bring them down from their greatness. Why? "Because they rebelled against You." "For the sin of their mouth, the word of their lips" (Psalms 59:13)—for they were sinning with their mouth and also with their lips. Doeg said (in 1 Samuel 22:9): "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob…." Ahithophel said to Absalom (in 2 Samuel 16:21): "Go in to your father's concubines…." "The sin of their mouth"—that they were sinning with their mouth. "The word of their lips"—with the speech upon their lips. Therefore, "let them be trapped by their pride" (Psalms 59:13).