Shimei שִׁמְעִי
Benjamite ancestor of Mordecai.
Who is Shimei in the Bible?
Shimei was a Benjamite ancestor of Mordecai, mentioned in Esther 2:5 as part of the genealogy explaining Mordecai's presence in Susa during the Persian Empire. He had been among the Jewish exiles carried away from Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and his descendants, including Mordecai, eventually settled in the Persian capital under King Ahasuerus. Though Shimei himself does not appear as an active character in the biblical narrative, his inclusion in Mordecai's lineage establishes the foundation for the entire story of Esther, highlighting Mordecai's tribal connection to Benjamin and his identity as a member of the Jewish diaspora whose faith and courage would later prove crucial to Jewish survival.
Biography
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.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEsther 1 verse
- 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."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְעִי | Shimi , the name of twenty Israelites |