Evil-Merodach was a king who ruled Babylon for a short period of time. There is a brief quote in the Bible about his reign.
Beroso, Chaldean priest, reports that Evil-Merodaque ruled Babylon for 2 years (from 562 BC to 560 BC). Already written like that of Flávio Joséfo, they point to a longer period, approximately 8 years.
The name Evil-Merodaque has variants such as: Evil-Marduk and Amel-Marduk. Both mean “man of the god Marduk” or “devotee of Marduk”. Marduk (Marduk or Merodaque) was one of Babylon’s chief gods and was quoted in one of Jeremiah’s prophecies ( Jeremiah 50: 2 ).
The young Evil-Merodach was the son of King Nebuchadnezzar II. Evil-Merodaque had its government marked by clashes with the class of priests of the time. The Babylonian sovereign was murdered in a coup designed by his own brother-in-law, Neriglissar (or Niglizar).
Know: Who was Nebuchadnezzar?
Evil-Merodaque in the Bible
The Bible does not report details about Evil-Merodach’s life, but despite his brief rule, the young sovereign significantly interfered in the history of the Jews. The Bible reports that Evil-Merodaque ordered King Joaquim to be released from prison, in which he had been captive for approximately 37 years.
See: What is Babylon?
In addition, Evil-Merodach placed the king Joaquim de Judá in prominence among other kings in Babylon, giving him access to a royal table in a kind of lifelong alimony ( 2 Kings 25: 27-30 and Jeremiah 52: 31-34 ).
The Bible no longer makes reports other than these that indicate that Babylon was on its way to decline and Jews near the end of captivity.
