시편 137:2-4 KRV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 137:1-6

We have here the daughter of Zion covered with a cloud, and dwelling with the daughter of Babylon; the people of God in tears, but sowing in tears. Observe, I. The mournful posture they were in as to their affairs and as to their spirits. 1. They were posted by the rivers of Babylon, in a strange land, a great way from their own country, whence they were brought as prisoners of war. The land of Babylon was now a house of bondage to that people, as Egypt had been in their beginning. Their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 137:2

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. These were musical instruments, used in the temple service by the Levites, who seem to be the persons here speaking; who took care of them, and preserved them from the plunder of the enemy; and carried them with them to Babylon, in hope of returning with them to use them as before, or to solace themselves and others in captivity; though now they had no heart to make use of them, their sorrow was so great, and therefore hung them upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 137:3

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song ,.... Or, "words of a song" F26 דברי שיר "verba cantici", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis; "verba earminis", Cocceius. . To repeat the words of one of the songs of Zion, as it is afterwards expressed: this the Babylonians did, as the Targum; who were they that carried the Jews into captivity; and this is given as a reason why they hung their harps on willows, and were so sorrowful, because... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 137:4

How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? This is the answer returned by the Jews to the above request or demand; it may be, particularly, by the Levites, whose business it was to sing these songs: so the Targum, "immediately the Levites said, how shall we sing the hymns of the Lord in a strange land?' This they said, not merely on account of their unsuitable circumstances, being in distress and affliction, and so not disposed for such work; nor as if unlawful to them, being... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:2

We hanged our harps upon the willows - The ערבים arabim or willows were very plentiful in Babylon. The great quantity of them that were on the banks of the Euphrates caused Isaiah, Isaiah 15:7 , to call it the brook or river of willows. This is a most affecting picture. Perhaps resting themselves after toil, and wishing to spend their time religiously, they took their harps, and were about to sing one of the songs of Zion; but, reflecting on their own country, they became so filled... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:3

They that carried us away captive required of us a song - This was as unreasonable as it was insulting. How could they who had reduced us to slavery, and dragged us in chains from our own beautiful land and privileges, expect us to sing a sacred ode to please them, who were enemies both to us and to our God? And how could those who wasted us expect mirth from people in captivity, deprived of all their possessions, and in the most abject state of poverty and oppression? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:4

How shall we sing the Lord's song - נשיר איך eich ! nashir ; O, we sing! Who does not hear the deep sigh in the strongly guttural sound of the original איך eich ! wrung, as it were, from the bottom of the heart? Can We, in this state of slavery, - We, exiles, from our country, We, stripped of all our property, - We, reduced to contempt by our strong enemy, - We, deprived of our religious privileges, - We, insulted by our oppressors, - We, in the land of heathens, - We sing, or be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:2

Verse 2 2.We hanged our harps upon the willows (180) He deplores the suspension of the songs of praise, which God had enjoined in his Temple. The Levites were set over the department of singing, and led the way among the people in this devotional exercise. Is it asked how they had carried their harps with them so far from their native land, we have in this another proof mentioned by the Psalmist of their faith and fervent piety, for the Levites when stripped of all their fortunes had preserved... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:3

Verse 3 3.Then they that carried us away captive, etc. We may be certain that the Israelites were treated with cruel severity under this barbarous tyranny to which they were subjected. And the worst affliction of all was, that their conquerors reproachfully insulted them, and even mocked them, their design being less to wound the hearts of these miserable exiles, than to cast blasphemies upon their God. The Babylonians had no desire to hear their sacred songs, and very likely would not have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:4

Verse 4 4.How shall we sing, etc. The Psalmist puts a lofty and magnanimous answer into the mouth of the Lord’s people to their insolent reproach, which is this, that they abstained from their songs, as from their legal sacrifices, because the land where they now were was polluted. The Chaldeans thought the Jews were bound down permanently to this place of their exile; the Psalmist, when he calls it a foreign land, suggests that it was but the place of their temporary stay. But the main idea... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 137:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 137:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 137:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 137:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 137:4

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