Shimei שִׁמְעִי

Shimei is mentioned in Est.2.5 as an ancestor of Mordecai, the cousin and guardian of Queen Esther. He is described as a Benjamite who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. This information provides background on Mordecai's lineage and explains how he came to be living in Susa, the capital of the Persian Empire, during the time of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). Shimei's inclusion in the genealogy highlights Mordecai's connection to the tribe of Benjamin and his Jewish heritage.