Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. PSALM 137
Ps 137:1-9. This Psalm records the mourning of the captive Israelites, and a prayer and prediction respecting the destruction of their enemies. 1. rivers of Babylon—the name of the city used for the whole country. remembered Zion—or, Jerusalem, as in Ps 132:13. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 2. upon the willows—which may have grown there then, if not now; as the palm, which was once common, is now rare in Palestine.
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 3, 4. Whether the request was in curiosity or derision, the answer intimates that a compliance was incongruous with their mournful feelings (Pr 25:20).
How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 5, 6. For joyful songs would imply forgetfulness of their desolated homes and fallen Church. The solemn imprecations on the hand and tongue, if thus forgetful, relate to the cunning or skill in playing, and the power of singing.
If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 7-9. Remember … the children of Edom—(Compare Ps 132:1), that is, to punish.
the day of Jerusalem—its downfall (La 4:21, 22; Ob 11-13). O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 8. daughter of Babylon—the people (Ps 9:13). Their destruction had been abundantly foretold (Isa 13:14; Jer 51:23). For the terribleness of that destruction, God's righteous judgment, and not the passions of the chafed Israelites, was responsible.
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. |
