Marduk-apla-iddina II (Akkadian: DMES.A.SUM-na[citation needed]; in the Bible Merodach-Baladan, also called Marduk-Baladan, Baladan and Berodach-Baladan, lit. Marduk has given me an heir) was a Chaldean leader from the Bit-Yakin tribe, originally established in the territory that once made the Sealand in southern Babylonia. He seized the Babylonian throne in 722 BC from Assyrian control and reigned from 722 BC to 710 BC, and from 703 BC to 702 BC.[1] His reign is defined by some historians as an illegitimate Third Dynasty of the Sealand, inside of the Xth Dynasty of Babylon, or Assyrian Dynasty.[2]
He was known as one of the kings who maintained Babylonian independence in the face of Assyrian military supremacy for more than a decade.
Sargon of Assyria repressed the allies of Marduk-apla-iddina II in Elam, Aram and Israel and eventually drove (ca. 710 BC) him from Babylon. After the death of Sargon, Marduk-apla-iddina II briefly recaptured the throne from a native Babylonian nobleman. He reigned nine months (703 BC – 702 BC). He returned from Elam and ignited rebellion in Babylonia. He was able to enter Babylon and be declared king again. Nine months later he was defeated near Kish by the Assyrians, but managed to flee to Elam.[3] He died in exile a couple of years later.
He is mentioned as king of Babylon in the days of King Hezekiah, both in 2 Kings 20:12 (here called Berodach-baladan) and in Isaiah 39:1. In both passages he sends Hezekiah a letter, having heard of his illness and recovery. His messengers who have delivered the letter are lavishly entertained by Hezekiah, leading the prophet Isaiah to criticise Hezekiah for his excessive openness about the wealth he had amassed.[4]
See also[]
Kings of Babylon
List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources
^"2. The Sealand I in Babylonian historiography", The First Dynasty of the Sealand in Mesopotamia, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, pp. 20–59, 2018-03-19, ISBN978-1-5015-0782-3, retrieved 2020-10-12
^Jean-Jacques Glassner, Mesopotamiam Chronicles, Atlanta, 2004, p. 197.
Erich Ebeling (ed.), Bruno Meissner (ed.), Ernst Weidner (ed.), Dietz Otto Edzard (ed.): Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie – Band 7 . Walter de Gruyter 1990, ISBN3110104377, p. 375 (online copy, p. 375, at Google Books)
Isin-Larsa period (Amorites) Dynasty of Isin: Ishbi-ErraShu-IlishuIddin-DaganIshme-DaganLipit-EshtarUr-NinurtaBur-SuenLipit-EnlilErra-imittiEnlil-baniZambiyaIter-pishaUr-du-kugaSuen-magirDamiq-ilishu Dynasty of Larsa: NaplanumEmisumSamiumZabaiaGungunumAbisareSumuelNur-AdadSin-IddinamSin-EribamSin-IqishamSilli-AdadWarad-SinRim-Sin I (...) Rim-Sin II Uruk VI dynasty: Alila-hadum Sumu-binasa Naram-Sin of Uruk Sîn-kāšid Sîn-iribam Sîn-gāmil Ilum-gamil Anam of Uruk Irdanene Rim-Anum Nabi-ilišu
Ptolemaic dynasty Ptolemy I SoterPtolemy KeraunosPtolemy II PhiladelphusArsinoe II♀Ptolemy III EuergetesBerenice II Euergetis♀Ptolemy IV PhilopatorArsinoe III Philopator♀Ptolemy V EpiphanesCleopatra I Syra♀Ptolemy VI PhilometorPtolemy VII Neos PhilopatorCleopatra II Philometor Soter♀Ptolemy VIII PhysconCleopatra III♀Ptolemy IX LathyrosCleopatra IV♀Ptolemy X AlexanderBerenice III♀Ptolemy XI AlexanderPtolemy XII AuletesCleopatra V♀Cleopatra VI Tryphaena♀Berenice IV Epiphanea♀Ptolemy XIIIPtolemy XIVCleopatra VII Philopator♀Ptolemy XV CaesarionArsinoe IV♀
Hellenistic Period
Argead dynasty: Alexander IPhilipAlexander IIAntigonus
Seleucid Empire: Seleucus IAntiochus IAntiochus IISeleucus IISeleucus IIIAntiochus IIISeleucus IVAntiochus IVAntiochus VDemetrius IAlexander IIIDemetrius IIAntiochus VI DionysusDiodotus TryphonAntiochus VII Sidetes
141–30 BCE
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