KING OF BABYLON · TWO KINGDOMS

Merodach-baladan. The king of Babylon whose envoys Hezekiah showed all his treasures.

REIGNEDi

Not given c. 721–710 BC (dates vary)

CAPITAL

Babylon

HOUSE

Not stated 1st of 5 in Babylon

SCRIPTURE SAYS

“At that time Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto…”

PROPHETS

Isaiah son of Amoz

BABYLON: 5 RULERS MERODACH-BALADAN → BELSHAZZAR

ON THE WORLD STAGE

The powers of the day

JUDAH

Hezekiah

ASSYRIA

Sargon · Sennacherib

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · 721–710 BC

The Babylonian Chronicle

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · THE REIGNS OF 721–702 BC

The Babylonian king list

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · SARGON'S REIGN, TO HIS 15TH YEAR

Sargon's display inscription

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · ABOUT 703–700 BC

Sennacherib's annals

SUCCESSION

Before and after

THE REALM

Babylon and the places of the account

Babylon. Only places Scripture names are shown, each where the Atlas puts it.

WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS

What Scripture says of him

  • "At that time Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick." 2 Kings 20:12
  • Isaiah's account: "he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered". Isaiah 39:1
  • Chronicles speaks of "the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land". 2 Chronicles 32:31

DEALINGS

Dealings with God's people

  • Chronicles: in the business of the ambassadors "God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart". 2 Chronicles 32:31
  • Letters and a present for Hezekiah; Hezekiah "hearkened unto them" (Kings) or "was glad of them" (Isaiah). 2 Kings 20:12–13 Isaiah 39:2
  • Isaiah foretold that some of Hezekiah's own sons would serve as eunuchs in the king of Babylon's palace. 2 Kings 20:18

EVENTS

Wars, works and turning points

UNDATED IN SCRIPTURE

PROPHETS

The prophets who spoke about him

  • Is Isaiah son of Amoz “all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.”

TWO ACCOUNTS

Where the accounts differ

His name

2 KINGS

ISAIAH

What he had heard

2 KINGS

ISAIAH

Who sent, and why

2 KINGS

2 CHRONICLES

DATES DIFFER

When was it?

ROGERS (1912)

c. 721–710 BC[80][72][71][82]

Proclaimed king at the New Year of 721 BC; twelve years, until Sargon drove him out. A second reign of nine months by the Babylonian king list, which Rogers places in 702 BC.

SCRIPTURE'S NUMBERS

No years given

Scripture gives no years for him (2 Kgs 20:12; Isa 39:1).

PTOLEMY'S CANON

c. 721–710 BC[75]

Twelve years from 721 BC (Rogers's table).

LUMBY (1887)

No years given[52]

Driven out in 709 BC; back on the throne in 702 BC for a brief time.

After the illness

2 Kings 20:12; Isaiah 39:1

"At that time", when he heard Hezekiah had been sick and had recovered. 2 Kings 20:12 Isaiah 39:1

In his first reign, before Sargon drove him out

the Pulpit Commentary (1880–97)

Merodach-baladan held Babylon against Sargon from 722 BC and sent the embassy probably hoping for an alliance with Hezekiah, also an enemy of Sargon. 2 Kings 20:12 [46]

In his short second reign

R. W. Rogers (1912); Ellicott's commentary, following Schrader

Rogers: when he retook Babylon, "His first move was to send an embassy to Hezekiah"; Ellicott's commentary says "perhaps" it was then, during a brief reign of six months. 2 Kings 20:12 [82][8]

It depends on the date of the illness

J. R. Lumby (1887)

If Hezekiah's illness came before Sennacherib's invasion, the embassy belongs to the long first reign; if after, to the brief second one. 2 Kings 20:1 2 Kings 20:12 [52]

IN SCRIPTURE

Every passage

CHAPTERS · 3

2 Kings 20 Isaiah 39 2 Chronicles 32

PASSAGES · 3

2 Kings 20:12–19 Isaiah 39:1–8 2 Chronicles 32:31

WHAT SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY

  • Scripture says nothing of Merodach-baladan's wars with Assyria or of how long he reigned.
  • Scripture does not say what answer the envoys took back to Babylon.

IDENTIFICATIONS THIS PAGE RELIES ON

  • From the textKings spells his name Berodach-baladan and Isaiah Merodach-baladan; both call him "the son of Baladan, king of Babylon". 2 Kings 20:12 Isaiah 39:1
  • Scholars' viewHe is the Marduk-apal-iddina (Merodach-baladan) of the Assyrian and Babylonian records, as Luckenbill's and Rogers's translations render the name.[30][72]

SOURCES

Where this page comes from

  • A. K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles (facts only) (1975), Chronicle 5.
  • A. K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles, Chronicle 1 (facts only; read in Livius's reproduction) (1975), Chronicle 1, column i, lines 27–28.
  • C. F. Keil, tr. A. Harper, The Books of the Chronicles (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 1 Chr 5:26 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, The Twelve Minor Prophets (Keil and Delitzsch) (1868), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, The Twelve Minor Prophets (Keil and Delitzsch) (1868), note on Hos 5:13 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 1 Chr 5:26 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Kgs 20:12 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Dan 1:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Dan 4:33 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Isa 20:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, The Annals of Sennacherib (Oriental Institute Publications 2) (1924), p. 156, "Epigraph: Sennacherib at Lachish".
  • D. D. Luckenbill, The Annals of Sennacherib (Oriental Institute Publications 2) (1924), pp. 32–34 (Oriental Institute Prism, col. III).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, The Annals of Sennacherib (Oriental Institute Publications 2) (1924), Introduction, pp. 11–13.
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §761, p. 269 (Tiglath-pileser's annals; reign 745–727 B.C.).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §772, p. 276 (annals: tribute list).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §777, p. 279 (annals: Hadaru, the 591 cities of Aram).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §801, p. 287 (Nimrud tablet: tribute list).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §§815–816, pp. 292–293 (fragmentary annals text).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. I (1926), §§828–830, p. 297 (Shalmaneser V).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §1198, pp. 436–438 (eponym list with notes).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §137, pp. 71–72 (Sargon's Nimrud inscription).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §17, p. 7 (Sargon's annals: Arab tribes settled in Samaria).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§193–195, pp. 105–106 (Sargon: prism fragment on Ashdod).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §231, p. 115 (Sennacherib: reign 705–681 B.C.).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §234, pp. 116–117 (Sennacherib's first campaign).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §240, pp. 119–121 (Sennacherib's third campaign).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§242–243, pp. 121–122 (Sennacherib's fourth campaign).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§30–31, pp. 13–14 (Sargon's annals, years 11 and 12).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §4, p. 2 (Sargon's annals, year 1).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §497, p. 199 (Esarhaddon: reign 680–669 B.C.).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§501–506, pp. 200–202 (Esarhaddon's accession).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §55, p. 26 (Sargon's display inscription).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §580, pp. 226–227 (Esarhaddon's stele from Senjirli).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §66, pp. 33–34 (Sargon's display inscription: Merodach-baladan).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §690, pp. 265–266 (Esarhaddon's prism).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §876, p. 340 (Ashurbanipal's cylinder C).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), List of Assyrian kings, pp. 439–442.
  • D. J. Wiseman, Chronicles of Chaldaean Kings (626–556 B.C.) in the British Museum (facts only) (1956), BM 21946.
  • E. F. Weidner, "Jojachin, König von Juda, in babylonischen Keilschrifttexten", Mélanges syriens offerts à M. René Dussaud, vol. II (facts only) (1939), pp. 923–935.
  • Geneva Bible translators, Geneva Bible marginal notes (1599), note on Dan 5:2 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Geneva Bible translators, Geneva Bible marginal notes (1599), note on Isa 20:1 (read on Bible Hub).
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  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Kgs 20:12 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on Hos 5:13 (read on Bible Hub).
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  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Dan 1:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Isa 20:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Joseph Benson, Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818), note on Dan 5:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Dan 5:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Hos 5:13 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Isa 20:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. D. Wilson, "Belshazzar", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915).
  • R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and D. Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Whole Bible (1871), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), p. 106 (the 'Verse Account', col. II, lines 18–20).
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), pp. 172–174 (the Nabonidus Chronicle on the fall of Babylon).
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), pp. 196–197, with notes 649, 652 and 654.
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), pp. 60–62.
  • R. P. Dougherty, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (Yale Oriental Series, Researches XV) (1929), pp. 6–7 (the Neo-Babylonian kings in the cuneiform texts).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 202 (Babylonian king list).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 208–212 (the Babylonian Chronicle, cols. I–II).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 215–217 (the Babylonian Chronicle, cols. III–IV).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 237–238 (eponym lists, 708–704 B.C.).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 239 (the Ptolemaic Canon).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 308–313 (Tiglathpileser IV, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 316 (Tiglathpileser's annals, line 150).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 319–321 (Tiglathpileser on Pekah and Hoshea).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 322 (Nimroud tablet, with note).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 323–326 (Sargon II, introduction; annals on Samaria).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 328–331 (Sargon: the campaign against Ashdod).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 332–333 (Sennacherib, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 343–345 (Sennacherib against Jerusalem).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 347–348 (Polyhistor and Abydenus).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 349–352 (Esarhaddon, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 356 (Esarhaddon, Prism B).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 360–364 (Nebuchadrezzar, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), p. 367 (Nebuchadrezzar's campaign against Egypt).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 368–369 (building inscription of Nebuchadrezzar).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 371–378 (Nabonidus, Belshazzar and Cyrus, introduction).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 378–379 (the four clay cylinders of Nabonidus, col. II).
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Daniel (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1900), note on Dan 1:1, pp. 1–2.
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Daniel (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1900), Introduction to ch. V, p. 60.
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Daniel (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1900), Additional note on Nebuchadnezzar's madness, pp. 58–60.
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Daniel (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1900), Introduction, pp. l–li.
  • T. K. Cheyne, Hosea (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1884), note on Hos 10:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • T. K. Cheyne, Hosea (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1884), note on Hos 5:13 (read on Bible Hub).
  • W. E. Barnes, The Books of Chronicles (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1899), note on 1 Chr 5:26 (read on Bible Hub).
  • W. E. Barnes, The Books of Chronicles (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1899), note on 2 Chr 33:11 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Xenophon, tr. H. G. Dakyns, Cyropaedia: The Education of Cyrus (1914), Book VII, ch. 5, §§15–33.

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