1The constant affection of the Jews in captivity to their desolate country. 7Edom and Babylon are cursed.
1BY1 the 2rivers of 3Babylon, 4there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered 5Zion.
1 These are the words of the singers of the priests and Levites, whose office was to praise God with musical instruments, as appears in 1 Chronicles 25. Yea, it seems that the Levites have made this psalm.
2 In the land of Babylon there are many rivers, of which the Tigris and the Euphrates are the most important ones.
3 Or, Babel, the most important city of Chaldea or Shinar, where Nimrod has ruled, Gen. 10:10. See there the annotation. From this it is that Babel, or Babylon is called, the land of Nimrod, Micah 5:6. See further of the name of Babel, Gen. 11:9 with the annotations. But under the name of Babel, we must here understand the several regions appertaining to the monarchy of Babylon.
4 That is, there we dwelled or sojourned, banished out of our own country, being strangers there, and full of sorrows.
5 Namely, about the destruction of the city and the temple of Jerusalem.
2We 6hanged our harps 7upon the willows 8in the midst thereof.
6 Thereby testifying that we had more cause and were more disposed to mourn than to play or sing.
7 Which love to grow along the banks or river sides.
8 Hebr. in the midst of her, namely, of Babel or Babylon. Implying they had left their musical instruments there, and given them quite over, having no mind to use them anymore. However we would not be drawn in any wise to sing any of our spiritual songs at the desire of the ungodly Babylonians who had carried us away captives.
3For there they that carried us away captive 9required of us 10a song; and they 11thata wasted 12us required of us 13mirth, saying, Sing us one 14of the songs of Zion.
9 Namely, jeeringly, and by way of reproach.
10 Hebr. the words of a song. In Psalm 145:5 we read: thy wondrous works, that is, things, or, words.
11 Other, plundered, spoiled.
a Psalm 79:1.
12 That is, our houses. Other, of our hanged ones (namely, of our harps hung up) they required joy.
13 The sense would be fuller thus read: they desired of us words of joy, that is, that we should be merry.
14 Namely, of those songs, hymns or psalms which they were wont to sing and play in the temple unto the honor of God.
415How shall we sing 16the LORD’S song 17in a strange land?
15 This is the answer of the people of Israel to the request of the Babylonians, showing reasons why they refused to sing any of the LORD’S songs there.
16 That is, such songs which we were wont to sing to the honor of God, not to the pleasure and pastime of such as are strangers to the true worship of God.
17 Namely, among the enemies of the church of God, which are wont to blaspheme the Name of God. Hebr. in the land of a stranger, that is, of strangers, or, exiles.
518If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
18 The sense is: We shall spare our singing and playing till the time come that Jerusalem be built again, and we return into our own land, as Thou, O Lord, hast promised us; then shall we, with cheerful hearts, voices and instruments, sing, and play, and praise Thee. Other, If my right hand shall forget thee, suppressing the curse. Other, then let my right hand forget her skill of playing.
6If I do not remember thee, let 19my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; 20if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
19 Wherewith I was wont to sing hymns and praises to my God; that is, let me be struck dumb, as Job 29:10. See also Psalm 22 on verse 15.
20 That is, if I do not account and hold the welfare of Jerusalem, and the church of God, for my chiefest joy and rejoicing. For chief the Hebrew has head, which is likewise used for to signify the highest or the most important, Exod. 30:23. See the annotation there.
721Remember,b O LORD, the chil-dren of Edom in 22the day of Jerusalem; who 23said, 24Rase it, rasecit, even 25to the foundation thereof.
21 Namely, to punish them. The children of Edom, that is, the Edomites, were always enemies to the people of God, and they had joined themselves with the Babylonians when Jerusalem was destroyed, Ezek. 25:12.
b Jer. 49:7; Ezek. 25:12.
22 Namely, the day of its destruction of Jerusalem. Day, for day or time of misery or calamity, we see likewise used Psalm 37:13; Ezek. 30:9; Hosea 1:11, etc.
23 Namely, to the Babylonians.
24 Namely, the city and the houses in it, breaking and razing all down to the ground. The Edomites, being enemies to the Israelites, were very glad to see Jerusalem laid waste thus, yea, they did their utmost to help and further it to a total desolation. This is charged upon them, Obadiah verses 12, 13, 14, etc.
c demolish
25 Hebr. to the foundations in her, that is, so long as there is any foundation left in her.
826O daughter of Babylon, who art to be 27destroyed; 28happydshall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast 29served us.
26 That is, thou Babylonian nation, as Psalm 9:14; Jer. 51:33. Or, ye inhabitants of Babylon. See the annotation on Cant. 2 on verse 2.
27 Hebr. wasted, that is, that shalt be wasted so assuredly, as if it were done already, God having decreed it. Or, wasted one, that is, who is worthy and having deserved to be wasted, as Psalm 18:3: I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, Who is praise-worthy.
28 He wants to say, that everyone shall wish good success to the destroyer of Babylon, and acknowledge it very thankfully, that he has recompensed the Babylonians what they had well deserved. See Isaiah 13; Jeremiah 50 and 51.
dJer. 50:15, 29; Rev. 18:6.
29 Or, recompenseth. The Hebrew word is taken for doing well, and for doing ill.
9Happy shall he be, 30that taketh and 31dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
30 That is, he who shall execute the severe judgments of God upon you by reason of your abominable misdeeds. See Psalm 8:2; Isa. 13:16 and the annotation.
31 Namely, in such a manner that the pieces shall be scattered about like chips.