Interesting Facts

• Mardon was the son of Nimrod.
• Mardon was described as being more wicked than his father, Nimrod.
• It became a proverb in the whole earth, “From the wicked goeth forth wickedness,” in reference to the acts of Mardon.
• Nimrod’s subjects and princes called him Amraphel, saying that at the tower his princes and men fell through his means. While this doesn’t directly state it’s Mardon, it links Nimrod to the downfall at the tower. However, the proverb explicitly references Mardon’s wickedness.

Genealogy

• Mardon was the son of Nimrod, who was the son of Cush, the son of Ham, the son of Noah.

Historical Context

Mardon lived in a time after the construction and dispersal from the Tower of Babel, during the reign of his father Nimrod in the land of Shinar. This period was marked by the establishment of cities and kingdoms. Nimrod was a powerful king who gained control over all the sons of Noah, and he led the people into idol worship and rebellion against the Lord. The proverb that arose concerning Mardon’s wickedness suggests that extreme moral corruption was a notable characteristic of this era, at least within Nimrod’s kingdom. There was also conflict and war between different groups and kingdoms, as seen in the war between Nimrod and Chedorlaomer.

Narrative

Mardon’s narrative within the provided texts is brief but impactful. He is primarily characterized by his extreme wickedness, exceeding even that of his father, Nimrod. His actions were so reprehensible that they led to the creation of a proverb, “From the wicked goeth forth wickedness,” which became widely known. This suggests that Mardon’s evil deeds were conspicuous and had a lasting impact on the collective consciousness of the people at the time. While the specific acts of wickedness committed by Mardon are not detailed, his general characterization as being more wicked than Nimrod, who himself rebelled against the Lord and taught wickedness, indicates a significant level of moral depravity. The fact that a proverb originated from his behavior underscores the profound negativity associated with his existence and actions within the narrative. He appears as a figure embodying extreme wickedness within the context of Nimrod’s reign and the early post-Babel world. He is mentioned in the context of Nimrod not returning to the Lord and continuing in wickedness, with Mardon further exacerbating this trend. He also fell amongst Nimrod’s men during the war against Chedorlaomer.