Title: Esther is strong
Contents
Esther
1. Name: ‘Ester’ is derived from the Persian name ‘Esper’. Esther's Hebrew name is "Hadassah."
Its meaning is beautiful tree = Myrtle. She became queen of King Ahasuerus of Persia and changed her name to “Esther.” Its meaning is “star”, which means “shining”.
2. Key points:
* Author: Anonymous Jew. The Jewish historian Josephus identifies Mordecai as the author (Esther 9:20), whereas Augustin considers the author Esther. However, many people see this event as a third person who directly witnessed or heard about it, and they see it as a person of the same era as Esther, who is well acquainted with Susan Palace.
* Date of record: 464-436 B.C. It is estimated that it was after the reign of King Ahasuerus, before the fire of Susan Palace
* Purpose of writing: ① The book of Esther is to convey to future generations the motive and purpose of keeping the Festival of Purim and the event.
② It emphasizes God's hand in saving the Jews, Esther's role in defending the Jews, and Mordecai's role. It is to convey God's providence of preservation in the midst of captivity.
3. Topic and gist
There is a theme that teaches how God protected the remnant of Persia after returning from captivity.
① Reason for choosing Esther as queen
② Esther's readiness to die
③ Haman vs Mordecai
④ Origin of Purim
* “The idea that God’s miraculous love and the message of salvation through a woman were used as a foreshadow of victory by casting lots.
It is the idea of “salvation and victory”.
4. Main body: It conveys the fact that the Jews suffered from the national annihilation policy and that the entire nation was saved through the activities of Esther and Mordecai.
5. Core Lessons of Faith
① National pride (pride as a Christian)
② A clear view of faith
③ Fasting and prayer in the midst of suffering
④ Faith and unity of determination
⑤ God using Esther’s identity and position
※ It teaches us that we must endure certain hardships in order to win.