Esther 2:5

5 There was a certain Yehudi in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordekhai, the son of Ya'ir, the son of Shim`i, the son of Kish, a Binyamini,

Esther 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:5

Now in Shushan the palace was a certain Jew
Not one of the tribe of Judah, for he was afterwards called a Benjaminite; but was so called, because he was of the kingdom of Judah, which consisted of both tribes. Jarchi says, all that were carried captive with the kings of Judah were called Jews among the nations, though of another tribe: whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of
Kish, a Benjamite;
who was among those that came with Zerubbabel from Babylon to Jerusalem, and returned to Persia again, ( Ezra 2:2 ) ( Nehemiah 7:7 ) , though some think this was another Mordecai; (See Gill on Ezra 2:2), who descended not from Kish, the father of Saul, but a later and more obscure person.

Esther 2:5 In-Context

3 and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them;

4 and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. The thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5 There was a certain Yehudi in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordekhai, the son of Ya'ir, the son of Shim`i, the son of Kish, a Binyamini,

6 who had been carried away from Yerushalayim with the captives who had been carried away with Yekhonyah king of Yehudah, whom Nevukhadnetztzar the king of Bavel had carried away.

7 He brought up Hadassah, who is, Ester, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordekhai took her for his own daughter.