Why does it say "Hayah b'Shushan ha'Birah"?
Vilna Gaon: Mordechai was already there. Hashem arranged that Achashverosh [move the capitol and] come to there [to prepare the salvation].
Malbim: The verses teach the virtue of Mordechai and Esther. She was taken three times, all Bal Korchah (against her will) - when she was taken from her house, during the 12 months under the hand of Hegai, and when she was taken to the king's palace. Mordechai hid her a long time. He could have been killed for transgressing the command to bring a beautiful daughter 1 . The danger was greater in Shushan, the place where girls were gathered, and it was known to the entire city. Had he come recently, he could say that he did not hear. However, "Hayah" - he was there from before! We will explain several other reasons why he was in great danger.
She was not his daughter, but obviously the command applies also to a foster parent of a beautiful girl. (PF)
Why does it say "u'Shmo Mordechai"?
Bamidbar Rabah (10:5): For Tzadikim, it says Shmo before the name. For Resha'im 1 , it says the name first, e.g. "Naval Shmo" (Shmuel I, 25:25).
Malbim: A lowly person has an excuse for not giving over his daughter. He can say that he was ashamed to give his daughter to the king, knowing his own low level. Mordechai was known in his name, lineage and Shevet for honor and glory. He was also from the seed of Sha'ul's kingship!
"U'Shmo Lavan" (Bereishis 24:29) is an exception; refer to Bereishis 24:29:153:1-3 and the notes there.
If the verse comes to give his lineage, it should trace the entire lineage until Binyamin! Why does it list only three fathers?
Torah Temimah citing Megilah 12b: It lists only ancestors whose names apply to Mordechai. "Ben Ya'ir" - [Mordechai] was Me'ir (illuminated) the eyes of Yisrael with his prayer. "Ben Shim'i" - Hashem Shama (heard) his prayer. "Ben Kish" - he was Mekish (knocked) on the gates of mercy, and they opened for him 1 .
Vilna Gaon: We could make such Drashos about all names! Why do we expound these? Man has four senses - sight, hearing, smell and speech. Three are used for Torah - seeing Mikra, hearing oral Torah, speaking to teach others. Rei'ach is not for Torah, only for Tefilah [which is Avodah, like Korbanos - PF] "Isheh Rei'ach Nicho'ach la'Shem." Mordechai was the aspect of Rei'ach. The Targum of "[Besamim Rosh] Mar Deror..." (Shemos 30:23) is Mari Dachi. Therefore, it expounds all of them regarding Tefilah.
He is called "Yehudi", i.e. from Yehudah; he is also called "Yemini", i.e. from Binyamin!
Torah Temimah citing Megilah 13a #1: Really, Mordechai comes from Binyamin. He is called Yehudi because he denied idolatry 1 . Anyone who denies idolatry is called Yehudi - "these Yehudi men... (do not bow to Your image)" (Daniel 3:12).
Megilah 12b #1, according to the Aruch: He was crowned with impeccable Torah conduct.
Megilah 12b #2: His father was from Binyamin and his mother was from Yehudah.
Megilah 12b #3: The Shevatim competed over taking credit for his birth. Yehudah took credit, for David (from Yehudah) did not kill Shim'i ben Gera (even though Shim'i was Chayav Misah for cursing David; this enabled Mordechai to descend from Shim'i. Binyamin took credit, since Mordechai descends from Binyamin.
Megilah 13a #2: Keneses Yisrael blames Yehudah and Binyamin for what happened: It blames Yehudah for not killing Shim'i, which enabled the birth of Mordechai, who provoked Haman. It blames Binyamin (from which came Sha'ul) for not killing Agag, from whom came Haman.
Rashi: Everyone exiled with Galus Yehudah, the Goyim called them Yehudim, even if they were from another Shevet. He was Ish Yemini - from Binyamin.
Kol Eliyahu, Divrei Eliyahu: What was difficult? All of Yisrael are called Yehudim several times in the Megilah! This is because Eretz Yisrael is composed of Galil, which Sancheriv exiled, and Yehudah remained [and Nebuchadnetzar exiled them]. There were not many from the other Shevatim, so they are included in Yehudah. Rather, "Ish Yehudi" implies that he is the leader over all the Yehudim. "Ish Yemini" implies that he is a Sar only over Binyamin! It answers that initially, in Eretz Yisrael, he was Sar only over Binyamin. After they were exiled, he became Sar over all the Yehudim; also his initial name remained.
