- - , Algemeen, , Moshe Zauderer, Introduction to Megillat Esther, The Commentaries [2005]; Mordechai: A
prophet and scion of the royal lineage of the tribe of Benjamin (he was a direct
descendent of King Saul, the first king of the Jewish people, 2882-2884 [879-877 BCE]),
Mordechai had been a member of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem --- the supreme court of the
Jewish people --- until his exile to Babylon, in 3327 (434 BCE), along with other
Jewish leaders. Shortly thereafter he returned to Jerusalem, only to be exiled a second
time during the final conquest of Jerusalem, in 3338 (423 BCE). He returned from Babylon
with the initial emigration of Jews under Cyrus' reign (3390 [371 BCE]), but after
Cyrus returned to live in the Persian capital city of Shushan. Initially, Mordechai served
as the Jewish representative to King Achashverosh; then the events surrounding the Purim
story catapulted him to the position of Prime Minister and royal advocate for the Jewish
people.