שמואל ב, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ב׳

King David reflects on the divine origins of his songs and psalms, clarifying that his expressions do not stem from his personal intellect, but are entirely the result of prophetic inspiration [רלב"ג, רד"ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He shares this realization just before speaking about his own virtues. By establishing that he is merely a vessel transmitting a message from God, he ensures that his impending words will not be mistaken for personal arrogance [אלשיך].

This prophetic experience involved the Holy Spirit entering and resting within him. Such an internal dwelling is a hallmark of prophecy, where the divine spirit resides inside the individual and speaks outwardly from within [רש"י, אלשיך].

The exact nature of this divine communication is understood in different ways. One perspective views David's reflections as an emphatic repetition, simply reinforcing the reality that all his words are spoken through God's spirit [מצודת דוד]. Another approach, however, sees a description of two distinct levels of divine inspiration. Often, an inspired individual might receive only a general spiritual awakening or a broad concept from God, leaving them to formulate the actual expression using their own mind. Yet, David testifies to experiencing a complete and perfect divine revelation. Not only did the spiritual idea come from God, but the precise words and their exact arrangement were placed directly upon his tongue [מלבי"ם].

This profound level of inspiration creates a sharp contrast with standard prophecy. While a regular prophet might hear God's message with their ears and then relay it, David achieved a unique state where he functioned as the literal mouthpiece for the divine. God's spirit did not just communicate to him, but spoke the exact words directly through his lips [אלשיך].