Esthers Biblical Genealogy: Was She a Jew?
Does Esther descend from of the tribe of a Judah (thus making her a Jew) or of the tribe of Benjamin?
shareEsther and her uncle Mordecai were descended from King Saul, and were from the tribe of Benjamin. However, the Israelites (or Hebrews) were all called Jews at this point in time, because Judah was the largest and most populous tribe.
shareActually the tribe of Joseph (Manasseh & Ephraim) was much larger. Upon his death bed, Jacob prophesied what would become of his 12 sons (each becoming a separate tribe) in the later days. After David died, the whole House of Israel split into 2 kingdoms (Judah and Israel). The 10 tribes that comprised the Kingdom of Israel were scattered among the nations. The remnant Kingdom of Judah remained and its constituents were called Jews (or Jude, Judes, Judas, etc.) which etymologically ties them back to their biological origin. It may be impossible to properly discern many Biblical prophecies (even Messianic texts) without recognizing the distinction. Jesus (Y’shua) was born a Jew by birth (just as Moses was not a Jew but rather a Levite) and had a legal right to be called King of the Jews and of the 12 tribes because he descends from the Jewish linage of David (as it is written in the scriptures).
The Bible says that though lost to history, God would not forget who or where the 10 lost tribes were and would meticulously sift the House of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. Ezekiel 37 (19-21) says that God will reunite the 12 tribes (whole House of Israel) at some point in their future. This has not yet been fulfilled and many of the prophecies in the Bible have specific references to the individual tribes that would be binding right up to the present day. I have nothing against the Jewish State of Israel (1948) but it does not fulfill Ezekiel 37.
I was unable to find a text that specifically refers to Esther’s genealogy. It is of course possible for the tribes to intermarry from time-to-time (and even outside of the tribes as Moses did). So referring to Mordecai or Esther as Jews is somewhat misleading if they have only the blood of Benjamin in their veins.
First of all, let me make it clear that I'm Jewish, and my answer is from that perspective. At the beginning of their history, the Jewish people were called Israelites, as in the Twelve Tribes of Israel. You are right when you said the Patriarch Jacob prophesied that the Tribe of Judah would be the tribe of royalty. (There were kings from other tribes as well, but they were unable to maintain their dynasties, unlike the Kings of Judah.) After the deaths of Kings David and Solomon from the Tribe of Judah, the kingdom split in two, just as you said. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was eventually destroyed, and its 10 Tribes were scattered among the nations. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was composed of 2 tribes only--the larger one of Judah, and the smaller tribe of Benjamin (as well as some wandering Levites who ministered religiously to their brethren). Since the Benjaminites and Levites were much smaller in number than the Judeans, they also became known as Judeans (or Jews). That is why Esther and Mordecai from the Tribe of Benjamin were called Judeans even though, technically, they were not. (I also call myself Jewish, though I'm descended from Levites). Perhaps in the future, when all 12 Tribes of Israel will be restored, we will once again be called Israelites, instead of being called Judeans or Jews.
shareThank you bens33. You are only the 2nd person I have communicated with that can even discuss the topic with a historical perspective. I am not Jewish but I can see that much has been misunderstood about their history and religion (even among some Rabbis who know the Torah and Talmud far better than I). Indeed, the Levites (priests) apparently circulated between the 2 kingdoms. Y’shua may actually have had some Levite blood in him if he could truly be called both “priest and king”. It was clear that the 12 tribes were orientated to specific designations (priests, judges, etc.). Ezekiel 37 (and many other texts) is very specific regarding the tribes. Most Christians believe it addresses the “resurrection of the dead” (i.e. “can these bones live”) even though the text clearly speaks about the reuniting of the 12 tribes. The convenient amalgamation of these ancient texts fosters some very peculiar religious beliefs that have no basis at all when compared to the books many claim them to be derived from.
I essentially concur with your assessment regarding Mordecai and Esther via Benjamin. I thank you again for your insights and for being a breath of fresh air in a valley of confusion!
If you are of Levitical descent (I am assuming Kohenim), then you have the most prestigious Jewish ancestry of all. :-)
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