Psalms 137
Psalm 137
[Psalms 137:1] BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON, THERE WE SAT DOWN, YEA, WE WEPT, WHEN
WE REMEMBERED ZION.
This Psalm was written for the Exiles of
Judah. The Jews never forgot who they were or where they came from . The Land
of Israel always held a central position in the Jewish Religion and Jewish
National Consciousness.
See:
"The Land of Israel" by Yehonatan Davidiy
http://www.britam.org/Yehonatan.html
The Northern Ten Tribes
were exiled according to conventional dating in the period 740-720 BCE. There
remained in the Land of Israel the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Judah. These
comprised the Tribes of Judah, part of Benjamin, most of Levi, and
representatives proportions of all the other Tribes that according to a
Midrash
(Seder Olam)
made up abou
20% of the total. From this remnant was to emerge the core element of the
Jewish People. In 586 BCE Jerusalem was destroyed by
Nebuchadnessar.
Most of the Jews were exiled in stages to Babylon. In 537 BCE Cyrus the Great
of Persia allowed the Jews to return and restore Jerusalem. The Jews were headed
by Ezra and Nehemiah. At first only a small minority returned but they
iuncreased
and multiplied and attracted more of the Jews to join them. Nevertheless after
the Babylonian Exile the majority of the Jewish People remained in
Exile.
[Psalms 137:2] WE HANGED OUR HARPS UPON THE WILLOWS IN THE MIDST THEREOF.
HARPS in Hebrew the word for harp is "kinor".
This is the harp we recognize and similar to that used in Ireland.
[Psalms 137:3] 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.
In the Temple service the Levites had
had the major task of singing in the choir and in the instrumental orchestra
though an ordinary Israelite with the requisite talent and training could also
participate. A very high standard had been reached.
I myself have no musical talent but my Jewish great-grandfather was a
professional violin-player from Denmark and had been appointed to the Court.
European music owes more to Jews and to Jewish traditions than is commonly
known. In fact we would probably not want to know.
[Psalms 137:4] HOW SHALL WE SING THE LORD'S SONG IN A STRANGE LAND?
Any land outside the Land of Israel is a
strangle Land. The Land of Israel has special qualities and is specially attuned
to enable the Hebraic consciousness to express itself.
[Psalms 137:5] IF I FORGET THEE, O JERUSALEM, LET MY RIGHT HAND FORGET HER
CUNNING.
What applies to the Land of Israel as
compared to the rest of world to a degree also applies to Jerusalem as compared
to the Rest of Israel. Even now Jerusalem has a special charm to it and evokes
in sensitive souls a unique reaction.
[Psalms 137:6] 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.
##THE ROOF OF MY MOUTH## Hebrew "Chiki".
From this root we get the word "Chiaek"
i.e. smile. This word root gives us the English word "Cheek".
[Psalms 137:7] REMEMBER, O LORD, THE CHILDREN OF EDOM IN THE DAY OF JERUSALEM;
WHO SAID, RASE IT, RASE IT, EVEN TO THE FOUNDATION THEREOF.
Edom was a small country to the east of
Judah. This verse is usually explained as saying that the
Edomites
from Edom assisted the Babylonians or at the least came in like scavengers after
the Babylonians to gather up the spoils and cut down survivors. In the Holocaust
in WW2 in East Europe many of the Gentiles acted in the same way and assisted
the German Nazis in killing Jews coming in after them and/or alongside them or
even preceding them to kill Jews and take their homes and possessions.
At present the Palestinian terrorists want to kill Jews and take the Land of
Israel from them. They are being supported by most of the peoples of the world
including those of Europe. The enemies of the Jewish People are enemies of God
of Israel and will be requited accordingly.
There is another aspect of Edom pertinent to the present lament.
Edom is another name for Esau who was the twin brother of Jacob. Esau gave rise
to several different peoples and ethnic groupings only one of which became the
Kingdom of Edom in the south.
Edomites were also to be found in
the north.
See our studies concerning Edom.
Edom
http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesEdom.html
#8. Biblical Studies: Edom to the North of Israel
http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesEdom.html#Studies
A group of
Edomites
had settled in Babylon possibly
tose known as the
Temmanu
from Teman
of Edom. Babylon became synonymous with Edom. In addition descendants of Esau
help found the Roman Empire and comprised part of its early ruling classes.
Rome is often referred to as Edom. On the other hand later many from Babylon
moved to Rome. In both Jewish and Christian traditions Rome became identified
with Babylon. We therefore obtain the conceptual equation
Rome-Babylon-Edom.
[Psalms 137:8] O DAUGHTER OF BABYLON, WHO ART TO BE DESTROYED; HAPPY SHALL HE
BE, THAT REWARDETH THEE AS THOU HAST SERVED US.
[Psalms 137:9] HAPPY SHALL HE BE, THAT TAKETH AND DASHETH THY LITTLE ONES
AGAINST THE STONES.
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