Bible Dictionaries
Nergal-Sharezer

Holman Bible Dictionary

(nehr' gal-sshuh ree' zuhr) A personal name meaning, “Nergal, protect the king.” Probably a different spelling of the name “Neriglissar.” He is mentioned as being among the officers of Nebuchadnezzar's court who helped destroy Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (Jeremiah 39:3 ,Jeremiah 39:3,39:13 ). He was a son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar who usurped the Babylonian throne following the death of Evil-merodach. Nergal-sharezer quite possibly had something to do with the rebellion and the king's death. From the Babylonian Chronicle it is known that Nergal-sharezer mounted a military campaign across the Taurus Mountains to fight the Medes. He succeeded at first but was met with a bitter defeat later and soon died, perhaps at the hands of those who placed Nabonidus on the throne. See Babylon, History and Religion of .