Evil-merodach, also known as Amel-Marduk, was a Babylonian king who reigned from approximately 562 to 560 BC. He was the son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar II, one of the most prominent kings of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Evil-merodach's reign is noted in the Bible for his act of kindness towards Jehoiachin, the exiled king of Judah.

Biblical Account:

The primary biblical reference to Evil-merodach is found in 2 Kings 25:27-30 and Jeremiah 52:31-34. According to these passages, in the thirty-seventh year of Jehoiachin's exile, Evil-merodach ascended to the throne of Babylon. In a gesture of clemency, he released Jehoiachin from prison and treated him with favor. The Berean Standard Bible records this event as follows:

"In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. And he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life. And the king provided Jehoiachin a daily portion for the rest of his life, for as long as he lived." (2 Kings 25:27-30)

This act of kindness is significant as it marked a change in Jehoiachin's status, allowing him to live in relative comfort and dignity during his remaining years in Babylon.

Historical Context:

Evil-merodach's reign followed the long and prosperous rule of his father, Nebuchadnezzar II, who had expanded the Babylonian Empire and undertaken extensive building projects, including the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Evil-merodach's rule, however, was short-lived and marked by political instability.

Historical records outside the Bible, such as the Babylonian Chronicles, provide limited information about Evil-merodach. His reign ended abruptly when he was assassinated by his brother-in-law, Neriglissar, who subsequently took the throne. This internal strife reflects the turbulent nature of Babylonian politics during this period.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, Evil-merodach's release of Jehoiachin can be seen as a demonstration of God's continued providence and mercy towards the exiled people of Judah. Despite their captivity, God did not forget His covenant with David's line, as evidenced by Jehoiachin's elevation from prison to a place of honor. This act foreshadows the eventual return of the Jewish people to their homeland and the restoration of Jerusalem, as prophesied by Jeremiah and other prophets.

Evil-merodach's actions serve as a reminder of the sovereignty of God over the affairs of nations and rulers. Even in exile, God was working through foreign kings to fulfill His purposes for His people.Evil-Merodach

the fool of Merodach; the fool grinds bitterly

Evil-Merodach

The son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, B. C. 561. His friendly treatment of Jehoiachin the captive king of Judah, in releasing him from prison and variously distinguishing him above other captives, is mentioned to his praise, 2 Kings 25:27; Jeremiah 52:31 34. His reign and life were cut short by a conspiracy, headed by Neriglissar his sister's husband, who succeeded him.

Merodach's man, the son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (2 Kings 25:27; Jeremiah 52:31, 34). He seems to have reigned but two years (B.C. 562-560). Influenced probably by Daniel, he showed kindness to Jehoiachin, who had been a prisoner in Babylon for thirty-seven years. He released him, and "spoke kindly to him." He was murdered by Nergal-sharezer=Neriglissar, his brother-in-law, who succeeded him (Jeremiah 39:3, 13). EVIL-MERODACH

e-vil-me-ro'-dak; -mer'-o-dak 'ewil merodhakh; Septuagint Eueialmarodek; so B in K, but B in Jeremiah, and A and Q in both places much corrupted:

The name of the son and immediate successor of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon. The Babylonian form of the name is Amelu-Marduk, that is, "man of Marduk." About 30 contract tablets dated in this reign have been found. They show that Evil-merodach reigned for two years and about five months. He is said by Berosus to have conducted his government in an illegal and improper manner, and to have been slain by his sister's brother, Nergalshar-ucur, who then reigned in his stead. Evil-merodach is said in 2 Kings 25:27-30 and in the parallel passage in Jeremiah 52:31-34 to have taken Jehoiachin, king of Judah, from his prison in Babylon, where he seems to have been confined for 37 years, to have clothed him with new garments, to have given him a seat above all the other kings, and to have allowed him to eat at the king's table all the days of his life. It is an undesigned coincidence, that may be worthy of mention, that the first dated tablet from this reign was written on the 26th of Elul, and Jeremiah 52:31 says that Jehoiachin was freed from prison on the 25th of the same month.

R. Dick Wilson

192. Evil Merodak -- "man of Merodach," son and successor of ...
... "man of Merodach," son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar. Transliteration: Evil Merodak
Phonetic Spelling: (ev-eel' mer-o-dak') Short Definition: Evil-merodach. ...
/hebrew/192.htm - 6k

What Lasts, and what Passes Away.
... II. Evilmerodach, king of Babylon, was wroth with Daniel, because he denied that
Bel was a god. ... Then Evilmerodach had them all slain. Now, my brethren! ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxii what lasts and what.htm

Cyrus.
... many years. Afterwards, in the year 540, he marched against Assyria, which
had insulted him in the time of Evil-Merodach. He beat ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xii cyrus.htm

Religious and Social State.
... The captives evidently had alleviations granted them in Babylon by their conquerors,
witness Evil-Merodach's kindness to Jehoiachin, II. Kings xxv.28. ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/religious and social state 2.htm

On Daniel. I. Preface by the Most Holy Hippolytus, (Bishop) of ...
... prison as a friend of Pharaoh, and as one set up by him over the kingdom, [1288]
he is released at length in the thirty-seventh year by Evil-Merodach king of ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on daniel i preface by.htm

Concerning Nebuchadnezzar and his Successors and How their ...
... 2. But now, after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-Merodach his son succeeded in
the kingdom, who immediately set Jeconiah at liberty, and esteemed him among ...
/.../the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 concerning nebuchadnezzar and.htm

Babylon.
... This humbled conqueror died in 563, and was succeeded by his son, Evil-Merodach,
who released the captive Jehoiachin, and made him eat at his own table until ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xi babylon.htm

The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... It tells us that Evil-Merodach, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign,
released the captive king of Judah, Jehoiachin, from his long confinement, and ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iv the earlier hebrew.htm

Appendices
... du-khinos), his son 668 Kandalanu (Kineladanos) 648 Nabopolassar 626 Nabu-kudurri-
uzur (Nebuchadrezzar II.), his son 605 Amil-Marduk (Evil-Merodach), his son ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

The Historical Books.
... We only know that the writer lived after the accession of Evil-merodach to the throne
of Babylon (2 Kings 25:27), and during the full pressure of the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

Book 1.
... begun to build the forementioned wall, fell sick, and departed this life, when he
had reigned forty-three years; whereupon his son Evilmerodach obtained the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/book 1.htm

Evilmerodach (2 Occurrences)
...Evil-merodach is said in 2 Kings 25:27-30 and in the parallel passage in Jeremiah
52:31-34 to have taken Jehoiachin, king of Judah ...Evilmerodach (2 Occurrences). ...
/e/evilmerodach.htm - 9k

Evil-merodach (2 Occurrences)
Evil-merodach. Evilmerodach, Evil-merodach. E'vil-Mer'odach . Easton's Bible
Dictionary ... Evilmerodach, Evil-merodach. E'vil-Mer'odach . Reference Bible.
/e/evil-merodach.htm - 9k

Jehoiachin (20 Occurrences)
... seven years (Jeremiah 52:31, 33), he was liberated by Evil-merodach, and permitted
to ... on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of ...
/j/jehoiachin.htm - 19k

Nergalsharezer (2 Occurrences)
... From profane history and the inscriptions, we are led to conclude that he was the
Neriglissar who murdered Evil-merodach, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, and ...
/n/nergalsharezer.htm - 9k

Nergal-sharezer (2 Occurrences)
... From profane history and the inscriptions, we are led to conclude that he was the
Neriglissar who murdered Evil-merodach, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, and ...
/n/nergal-sharezer.htm - 9k

Jehoi'achin (11 Occurrences)
... and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth
month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of ...
/j/jehoi'achin.htm - 9k

Thirty-seventh (3 Occurrences)
... seventh year after Jehoiachin, king of Judah, had been taken prisoner, in the twelfth
month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach, king of ...
/t/thirty-seventh.htm - 7k

Thirtieth (9 Occurrences)
... and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth
month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of ...
/t/thirtieth.htm - 10k

E'vil-Mer'odach (1 Occurrence)
... king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month,
that Evilmerodach king of ... Evil-merodach, E'vil-Mer'odach. Evil-mero'dach . ...
/e/e'vil-mer'odach.htm - 6k

Nebuchadnezzar (90 Occurrences)
... died BC 562, in the eighty-third or eighty-fourth year of his age, after a reign
of forty-three years, and was succeeded by his son Evil-merodach, who, after a ...
/n/nebuchadnezzar.htm - 57k

Who was King Jehoiachin in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the Babylonian Empire in biblical history? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about good versus evil? | GotQuestions.org

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