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what did victors typically do with conquered peoples' cultural expressions in babylonian society?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Psalm 137:1-4

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows in its midst, we hung up our harps. For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded mirth, singing, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?”

This psalm is a lament, written by Jewish exiles during or shortly after their captivity in Babylon. It expresses their deep sorrow and longing for their homeland, Jerusalem (Zion), after the destruction of their temple and kingdom by the Babylonian Empire.

What does it mean to hold onto a part of yourself when pressured to perform for others?

Then — the setting

This psalm likely emerged during or immediately after the Babylonian Exile (586-539 BCE). The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, and deported a significant portion of its elite and skilled population to Babylon. This was a common imperial strategy to dismantle national identity and integrate conquered peoples into the empire's vast administration and economy. While Babylonians were generally known for their rich culture and advancements in arts and sciences, their treatment of conquered peoples could be harsh, often involving forced labor and cultural assimilation.

Across the Testaments

In the Old Testament, this psalm poignantly captures the experience of exile, lamenting the loss of homeland and religious expression. The New Testament, particularly in Revelation, re-uses the symbol of 'Babylon' not as a literal empire, but as a metaphor for corrupt and oppressive worldly systems that demand allegiance. While Psalm 137 describes a physical captivity and cultural suppression, Revelation speaks to a spiritual and systemic oppression, both emphasizing the struggle to maintain identity and faith against dominant powers.

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Read alongside it

Lamentations 1:1-3
Describes the devastation of Jerusalem and the pain of its people after the Babylonian conquest.
Daniel 1:3-7
Shows the Babylonian attempt to assimilate conquered peoples by educating them in their culture and language.
Revelation 18:21-24
Uses the imagery of 'Babylon' to represent oppressive worldly powers, whose 'music' will eventually cease.

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