By the River of Babylon

In 587 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar’s armies from Babylon surrounded and conquered Jerusalem. The numbers of Jews slain at the hand of this fearful war machine can only be speculated at. Over four thousand of the most influential people, those who determined state policy and were responsible for carrying out its policies, were carried to Babylon as captives. They lived there for nearly a century before they were allowed to return to Jerusalem and attempt to reestablish their nation. It was a hard time for these people who had seen their homeland scorched by the enemy and their city, their national and religious identity, decimated. And, their Temple completely destroyed.

Judeans living in captivity under the Babylonians was better than being in such circumstances in some other nation. Israel had been conquered by Assyria nearly a century and a half earlier and Assyria’s policy toward its captives was much harsher than the policy of Babylon. The Israelites were carried off and dispersed. Their identity was completely destroyed and lost. These are the ten lost tribes of Israel, around whom there is so much mystery and speculation. The Babylonians set the Judeans up as a community within their borders. The Judeans were encouraged to enter business, marry and have children, and, generally, live as well as possible. But, they were still living in bondage, something the Judeans would have found intolerable. Their shock at their circumstances was heightened as they recalled their existence as slaves in Egypt, from which they escaped and formed their national identity.

The Judeans also had the national memory of seeing their city and temple burning as they were force marched away from their homes and toward Babylon.

While they endured their existence in Babylon, they continued their community. They engaged in commerce, both among themselves and with others. They married and raised families, always telling their children about Jerusalem and the temple. Their stories were a longing for what was, sometimes coupled with what might be.

One of the most beautiful poems written was produced by one of these captives in Babylon. In it he shows the longing for Jerusalem and the temple. It is recorded in both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament as Psalm 137.

1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3For 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.
4How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. (KJV)

Sitting by the river of Babylon, the poet recalls Jerusalem. And, everything he remembers is good and beautiful. Everything he remembers about the temple is righteous and holy. He may have never seen Jerusalem. As he writes, there doesn’t appear to be any shackles or forced labor. He is sitting by the river writing poetry. They have been there long enough that they have either broken out or replaced their harps. They have time to sing and play harps. Their life is pretty good considering the circumstances, but it’s not in Jerusalem. They have hung the harps in the willow trees because they refuse to sing for their captors. Even when requested or demanded to do so.

I will never forget Jerusalem, declares the Jew. We will never forget Jerusalem, sings the poet. I would rather lose my right hand than forget her. I would prefer to lose my ability to speak than to forget Jerusalem.

This is a beautiful poetic expression of a people’s love for their homeland. Their belief was that this land and this city were given to them by God, a fulfillment of a promise He made to Abraham. And, it was more than that. It was where they met with and communed with God. They believed there was one God and that he was the God of the world, but they knew that in Jerusalem they communed with Him.