Keywords
Psalm 137
Trauma
exile
captivity
loss
How to Cite
Abstract
The Babylonian captivity and exile inflicted profound trauma upon the Jewish people, wrenching them from their loved ones, displacing them from their families, homeland and the temple. The significance of the temple extended far beyond mere architecture; it symbolised the people’s faith and the presence of YHWH in their midst. The ensuing loss reverberated deeply within the Jewish community. A hermeneutics of trauma will be applied to the reading of Pss 42-43 and 137 to uncover how the Israelites responded to the trauma of losing their entire world—the temple, homeland and security. The article concludes that contemporary worshippers can draw on these psalms to find solace and healing amidst contemporary trauma.
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