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There was a certain Jew

This introduces Mordecai as a new character in the story. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-participants)

Susa

Translate the name of this city as in Esther 1:2. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)

son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish

"Jair," "Shimei," and "Kish" are men from whom "Mordecai" is the male descendant. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)

Benjamite

"of the tribe of Benjamin"

He had been taken away ... king of Babylonia carried away

This background information explains how Mordecai came to live in Susa. This can be stated in active form. AT: "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia carried him and other exiles away along with Jehoiachin, king of Judah" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive)

He had been taken away from Jerusalem

The Hebrew text leaves unclear who is being spoken of here. It is perhaps Kish, who seems to have been the great-grandfather of Mordecai. If it was Mordecai himself, then he would be extremely old at the time of the events concerning Esther. Many modern versions leave this matter unclear. A few versions, including the UDB, choose to assume that it was Mordecai who had been taken away from Jerusalem.

Jehoiachin, king of Judah

(See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)

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