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;
Now in the royal city of Shushan, there lived a Jewish man named Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, who was the son of Shimei, who was the son of Kish. Mordecai belonged to the tribe of Benjamin.
This verse introduces Mordecai, a Jewish man living in the Persian capital, and traces his family line back through several generations to show his Hebrew heritage.
📚 Historical Context
This takes place during the Persian Empire around 486-465 BC, when many Jews were living in exile throughout the Persian territories after being taken from their homeland. Shushan (modern-day Iran) was one of the main royal cities where the Persian king held court. The genealogy connects Mordecai to the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
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