Marduk-apla-idina II, the first Babylonian mentioned by name in the Bible (as Merodach-baladan II), was a wealthy prince of the Sealand Bit-Yakin tribe of southern Babylonia. According to the Babylonian King-List he is the only one to become king on two occasions (721-710 and 703). When Assyrian king, Shalmaneser V (726-722 BC) who had been ruling Babylonia died, the Chaldean Marduk-apla-idina II, seized the Babylonian throne. He succeeded in uniting the disparent Chaldean tribes and initiated a treaty with Elam to the east. Babylonia was able to maintain its independence from 721-710.
It was not until 710 BC when Assyrian king Sargon II (721-705 BC) conquered Babylonia that the region once again fell under Assyrian domination and Marduk-apla-idina II fled into the sealand marshes. However, he was subsequently re-instated by the Assyrians as king of Babylon.
When in 705 BC Sargon II of Assyria was killed in battle in the northern frontier, the Babylonian king saw another opportunity for pushing back the Assyrians. In 703 BC Marduk-apla-idina II (Merodach-Baladan II) successfully formed an anti-Assyrian coalition which included king Hezekiah of Judah (Isaiah 39, 2 Kings 20:12-19). However, Sargon II's son, Sennacherib, crushed this rebellion and Marduk-apla-idina II again fled into the marshes. During a following Assyrian invasion into Babylonian, Marduk-apla-idina II fled by sea, abandoning his family, but taking with him his national gods and the bones of his ancestors.
Marduk-apla-idina II (Merodach-baladan II) is known as the most astute tribal champion of Babylonian independence. He died an aged man shortly after 699 BC.
Illustration description: Black marble boundary-stone (kudurru) of Merodach-Baladan II (712 BC). The Babylonian king is shown making a grant of land to the governor of Babylon. This kudurru is now housed in the Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin.
Illustration credit: http://www.biblepicturegallery.com
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