EVIL-MERODACH (Babylonian Avril-Marduk, “servant of Marduk”; Septuagint Εὐαγγελῶδεν). – King of Babylon, son of Nabuchodonosor, whom he succeeded on the throne in 561 B.C. He reigned for only two years. The inscriptions are silent concerning the new king’s foreign policy; they merely hint that he did not pursue a conciliatory diplomacy in domestic affairs in order to win the favor of and dominate the priestly party. And indeed E. fell victim to a conspiracy led by his brother-in-law Nergalgar-ugur with the help of the priestly caste.
Although the annalists blame him by accusing him of being “too arbitrary,” he proved to be a mild and humane king by releasing from prison King Ioachin of Jerusalem, who had been in chains since 598–597, that is, for approximately 37 years, and had become blind. He was E.’s table companion until his death (II Reg. 25:27–30; Ier. 52:31–34).