Bible Strands
Esther 2:5
Now there was at the citadel of Susa a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative moves to the royal citadel of Susa immediately after King Xerxes approves the decree to replace Queen Vashti. It introduces Mordecai, a Jewish man residing there, at the precise moment the royal search for a new queen begins.
The words — The text identifies the man as יְהוּדִי (ye.hu.Di), literally "Jewish," and locates him in הַ/בִּירָ֑ה (ha./bi.Rah), meaning "the citadel." These terms anchor his ethnic identity and his physical proximity to the royal court.
The thread — The genealogy traces Mordecai’s lineage back to Kish and Shimei, echoing the tribal records in 1 Samuel 9:1 and 2 Samuel 16:5. His residence in Susa parallels the earlier mention of the royal citadel in Esther 1:2.
Why it lands — The text records a specific name, tribal origin, and urban location without commentary. It places a Jewish exile directly within the king's administrative center, establishing the geographic and genealogical framework for the coming events.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 16:5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.
- 1 Samuel 9:1 Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
- Esther 1:2 In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
- Esther 2:3 and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.
- Esther 3:2 All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.
- Esther 5:1 On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.
- Esther 10:3 For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.