LEV531 Tale-bearing, or gossip, refers to telling stories about others that are true (at least in the speaker's mind) and not necessarily negative or degrading to the subject (M.T. Laws of Ethics 7:2). The Jerusalem Talmud interprets the verse's rakhil with reference to rokhel, a peddler: one should not be like a rokhel who bears the burden of one person's words and carries them to another (J. Peah 1:1, 16a). Maimonides (M.T. Laws of Ethics 7:1:2) employs strong language in writing of gossip, pointing out that it is a "great sin" which can cause the "killing of souls" and can "destroy the world." He specifically calls attention to the case of Doeg the Edomite (1 Sam 22:9–19). Doeg informed King Saul that Ahimelech, a priest in Nob, had assisted the then-fugitive David. This information was true (per 1 Sam 21:2–10) and was not prima facie negative about either Ahimelech or David; yet this information enraged Saul, who ordered Doeg to kill all the priests in Nob. Thus, according to Maimonides, the prohibition of gossip is appropriately placed alongside the command "Do not stand idly by your brother's blood" [this verse]. Another issue with the gossipmonger is that she may reveal what should be kept private. M. Sanhedrin 3:7 quotes [this verse] and Proverbs 11:13 ("A base fellow [rakhil] gives away secrets, but a trustworthy soul keeps a confidence")... (By Alyssa M. Gray, "Jewish Ethics of Speech")