Evil-Merodach

Evil-merodach is the Babylonian king who, on his accession, brought Jehoiachin out of prison and gave him a place of honor at his table. The notice closes both 2 Kings and Jeremiah, and the two accounts run in close parallel.

Accession and the Release of Jehoiachin

The end of 2 Kings dates the act precisely: "And it came to pass in the seven 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 Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison" (2 Ki 25:27). The release coincides with his first year as king. Jeremiah's parallel adds two days to the date and calls it "the [first] year of his reign," and reports that he "brought him forth out of prison" (Jer 52:31).

Kindness, Throne, and Daily Allowance

What follows is a sustained pattern of favor. Evil-merodach "spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon" (2 Ki 25:28; cf. Jer 52:32). The Judahite king's prison garments were changed, and "[Jehoiachin] ate bread before him continually all the days of his life" (2 Ki 25:29; cf. Jer 52:33). A continual allowance was given by the king, "every day a portion, all the days of his life" (2 Ki 25:30) — Jeremiah's version specifying that this allowance was "by the king of Babylon" and ran "until the day of his death" (Jer 52:34).