Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon from 605BC to 562BC. We know of two of his children: a son, Amel Marduk (known as Evil-Merodach in 2 Kings 25:27), and a daughter Nitocris.
Amel-Marduk succeeded Nebuchadnezzar as king. According to Berossus (Jos Ap 1.20), Amel-Marduk was killed in a coup. His brother-in-law, Neriglissar (probably the same as Nergal-Sharezer mentioned in Jeremiah 39:3,13) succeeded him. When Neriglissar died, his son Labashi-Marduk became king although still a child, but was assassinated after only 9 months.
Finally, Nabonidus, the son of a priestess, became king in 556 B.C. and married Nitocris (probably the queen in Daniel 5:10). Their eldest son Belshazzar was made regent and co-ruler with him. In about 550 B.C., Nabonidus moved to Arabia leaving Babylon in the hands of Belshazzar. He didn’t return for 10 years, and then only to be captured by the Persians.
Thus was fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jer 27:7) that “all nations would serve him [Nebuchadnezzar], his son [Evil-Merodach] and his grandson [Belshazzar] until the time for his land comes.” In the process, two sons-in-law (Neriglissar and Nabonidus) and another grandson (Labashi-Marduk) also reigned.
| Kings of Babylon | |
| Nabopolassar | 626–605 |
| Nebuchadnezzar | 605–561 |
| Evil-Merodach | 561–560 |
| Neriglissar | 560–556 |
| Labashi-Marduk | 556 |
| Nabonidus | 556–539 |
| Belshazzar | 553–539 |
