The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

EXPOSITION

"THE most direct and striking reminiscence of the Babylonish exile in the whole Psalter" (Professor Alexander). The psalm divides into two parts. First, we are given a picture of the unhappy condition of the exiles, drawn so evidently from the life, that almost every commentator has felt it must have been painted by one of those who had experienced the reality (Psalms 137:1-4). Then the writer lays bare to us the predominant feelings of his own heart. These are two—intense love for Jerusalem (Psalms 137:5, Psalms 137:6); and intense hatred of Israel's and Jehovah's principal foes, Edom and Babylon (Psalms 137:7-9). The two parts are strongly contrasted. "The plaintive sweetness, which (in the first) melted us into tears, is overpowered (in the second)by a crash of discords" (Cheyne).

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 137:1-4Their enemies had carried the Jews captive from their own land. To complete their woes, they insulted over them; they required of them mirth and a song. This was very barbarous; also profane, for no songs would serve bu…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-6By the rivers of Babylon, etc. "The psalm expresses the feelings of an exile who has but just returned from the land of his captivity." I. THE LOSS OF LIBERTY TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL. 1. Brings after it the most desponde…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1By the rivers of Babylon The Euphrates and the canals derived from it, which were many, and filled with running, not stagnant, water. These would present themselves to the exiles as "rivers." There we sat down, yea, we…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9Incongruity in religion. The psalm brings before us in very vivid color— I. THE DARK SHADOW CAST BY A GREAT GOOD. Patriotism is an excellent thing, and we are all of us glad and thankful to belong to a land of light and…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9Fruits of exile from God. It was Israel's, or rather Judah's, exile from Zion and Jerusalem that this psalm commemorated; but the fruits that exile bore, and which are here told of, set forth the fruits of the yet sadde…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1The tears of memory. "Yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion." The rivers of Babylon and the district were the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the branch streams of those rivers. The writer of the psalm is not in Babylon, but…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. The superfluous "harps" were "hung" up upon the trees that grew by the watercourses. These are called "willows," or, according to some, "poplars," but were prob…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:2Willow-types. It is remarked that there are now no willows in Babylon. The name ereb is also applied to the tamarisk and poplar. But the drooping form of the willow branches and leaves is specially suggestive of tears.…Joseph S. Exell and contributors