The song is based on the Biblical Psalm 137:1-4, a hymn expressing the lamentations of the Jewish people in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BCE:[1] Previously the Kingdom of Israel, after being united under Kings David and Solomon, was split in two, with the Kingdom Of Israel in the north, conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BCE which caused the dispersion of 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel. The southern Kingdom of Judah (hence the name Jews), home of the tribe of Judah and part of the Tribe of Levi, was free from foreign domination until the Babylonian conquest to which Rivers Of Babylon refers.
“ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion... They carried us away in captivity requiring of us a song... Now how shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land? ”
The namesake rivers of Babylon are the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The song also has words from Psalm 19:14:[2]
“ Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight... ”
It is one of a few pop songs whose lyrics come directly from the Bible.
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