Psalms 137:8 - Exposition

O daughter of Babylon ; i . e . O nation of the Babylonians (comp. Isaiah 47:1 , Isaiah 47:5 ; Psalms 9:14 , etc.). Who art to be destroyed ; literally, thou desolated one . The desolation of Babylon began with its capture by Cyrus, but was not completed for many centuries. In the Archaemenian period it was one of the chief cities of the empire. Even under the Parthians it was still a flourishing town. But from the time of Isaiah's prophecy ( Isaiah 13:1-22 ) it was a doomed city, and in the eyes of a devout Jew already "desolate." Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us ; i . e . happy shall he be that completes thy destruction, and the destruction of thy people. He will be the instrument for carrying out God's vengeance.