Psalms 137

The Penman of this Psalm is uncertain: the occasion of it was unquestionably the consideration of the Babylonish Captivity: and it seems to have been composed either during the time of that Captivity, or presently after their deliverance out of it.

BY the rivers of Babylon Either, 1. of the City of Babylon, and then the river is Euphrates here called rivers for its greatness, and by a common Enallage of the Plural for the Singular, as Tigris also is, Nah. 2. 6. yea and Iordan, Psal. 74. 15. Or, 2. of the Territory of Babylon, in which there were many rivers, as Euphrates, which also was divided into several streams or rivule... s, and Tigris and others. Here they were either by the appointment of their Lords for the making or repairing of the works beside the river: or by choice, retiring themselves thither from the noise and observation of their enemies, as they had opportunity, that they might disburden their oppressed minds before the Lord., there we sat down The usual posture of mourners, Ezra 9. 4, &c. Iob 2. 12. Isa. 47. 1, 5., yea, we wept when we remembred Zion Either, 1. our former enjoyments in Zion, which greatly aggravated their present misery, Lam. 1. 7. Or, 2. Zions present desolations and pollutions..

We hanged our harps These are not without great probability supposed to be the words of some holy Levites, who had been accustomed to musick, both vocal and instrumental, in the service of the Temple. Harps are here put by a Synecdoche for all instruments of musick. It is further to be observed, That although the harp was used by the Grecians in mourning, yet it was used by the Hebrews in re... oycing, as is manifest from Gen. 31. 27. 2 Chron. 20. 27, 28. Psal. 43. 4, &c. This passage is to be understood either, 1. figuratively, signifying only that they abandoned all signs and means of comfort: or rather, 2. properly, as the following songs are, which the Babylonians required them to sing to their harps And these harps they might either, 1. bring from Ierusalem, which they might desire to do to preserve those sacred utensils, and their enemies might either permit or command them to do for their own delight: or, 2. procure in Babylon, that they might sometimes solace themselves with the practice of some of the Temple-musick, which they desired and intended to do; but when they came to the tryal, they were not able to do it, and therefore laid them by. upon the willows Which commonly grow upon the banks of rivers, as they did by Euphrates in such plenty, that from thence it is called the brook of willows, Isa. 15. 7., in the midst thereof.

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 Such songs as you used to sing in the Temple at Sion. Which they required either out of curiosity, or to delight their ears, or rather by way of scoffing and insultation over them and their Temple and Religion..

How shall we sing the LORD's song Those songs which were appointed by God, and to be sung only to his honour and in his service. in a strange land When we are banished from our own Temple and Land, and amongst those who are strangers and enemies to God and to his Worship? So we should prostitute and... rofane Gods Ordinances. And this answer they either expressed to their enemies, or kept in their own breasts when they refused to comply with their desire.?

If I forget thee If I do not retain a deep and sorrowful sense of thy ruine and misery, or if I... dulge my self in mirth and jollity, as if I had forgotten thee., O Jerusalem, let my right hand The chief instrument of playing upon musical instruments and of other actions. forget her cunning i. e. Lose its skill of playing. In the Hebrew it is only, forget, without expressing what, to intimate the extent and generality of this wish, Let it forget or be disenabled not only for playing, but for every action in which it was formerly used..

If I do not remember thee With affection and sympathy, so as to damp my joys., let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth Be made uncapable of singing or speaking or... oving, as it is in some diseases. Compare Iob 29. 10 Psal. 22. 16. if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy If I do not value and desire Ierusalems prosperity more than all other delights, and consequently if Ierusalems misery does not so deeply affect me as to hinder my delight in all other things..

Remember, O LORD, So as to punish them. the children of Edom Our constant and inveterate enemies, who had no regard either to consanguinity or humanity, in the day In the time of its calamity or destruction, which is oft called a day, as Iob 18. 20. Psal. 37. 13. Ezek. 30. 9. Hos. 11. 11. Obad. v. 12. of Jerusalem; who said To the Babylonians, whom they assisted and provoked against Ierusalem: of which see Lam. 4. 11. Ezek. 25. 12. Obad. v. 11, 12, 13, 14., Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

O daughter of Babylon By which he understands the City and Empire of Babylo... and the people thereof., who art to be destroyed Who art by Gods righteous and irrevocable Sentence devoted to certain destruction.. happy shall he be As being Gods instrument to vindicate his honour, and execute his just judgments, and fulfil his counsel and word: which Cyr... s was to his own great glory and advantage, as appears both from sacred and profane History. that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us That shall use thee with equal cruelty..

Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones As thou didst use our little ones. So this was but a just re... ation foretold here, as also Is.... 13. 16..