Jeremiah 50:2. ("death" (Gesenius) or "little lord".) Epithet of Bel the Babylonian Jupiter, termed "the senior of the gods," "the judge," and by Nebuchadnezzar in inscriptions "the great lord, the most ancient," and by Neriglissar "the firstborn of gods, the layer up of treasures." Merodach became a distinct phase of Bel. It forms part of some kings' names, as Merodach Baladan, Evil Merodach; it is so used as early as 1650 B.C. Zurbanit (from banit , "productive mother") was Merodach's wife. Another Bel was named Niprut, ("hunter"), or Nimrod; worshipped at Nipur (Calneh; Rawlinson's Ancient Monarchies).