Nebuchadnezzar Dragged From His Grave and Evil-merodach Crowned

[Another interpretation:] "Dreadful and terrible" (Habakkuk 1:7) — this refers to Nebuchadnezzar, as it is said, "And you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens'" (Isaiah 14:13). "From him his judgment and his majesty proceed" — this is Evil-merodach. Our Rabbis said: When Nebuchadnezzar was driven out, as it is written, "And they shall drive you out from among men" (Daniel 4:29), all that time Evil-merodach served in his place. And when he returned, he imprisoned him in the prison house. And everyone who was imprisoned by his hand never came out of the prison house ever, until the day of his death, as it is said, "(And) he did not open the house for his prisoners" (Isaiah 14:17). When Nebuchadnezzar died, they sought to make Evil-merodach king. They came in to him, but he did not accept. He said to them: At first I listened to you, and for that I was imprisoned; and now shall I listen to you? Perhaps he is alive and will rise up against me and kill me. They went over to Nebuchadnezzar and dragged him from his grave and brought him out, and he saw that he was dead, and they made him king — to fulfill what is said, "But you were cast out of your grave like a loathsome branch" (Isaiah 14:19). Thus, "Dreadful and terrible" — this is Nebuchadnezzar; "from him his judgment and his majesty proceed" — this is Evil-merodach.