דָּת noun feminine^{Esther 3:15} decree, law, usage, only in Persian period (Biblical Aramaic Late Hebrew id., Syriac or ; Persian loan-word, Old Persian dâta, law, Spieg^{APK 225}) — ׳ד absolute Esther 1:8 9t.; construct דַּת Esther 2:12, דָּת Esther 9:13; suffix דָּתוֺ Esther 2:8 4t.; plural construct דָּתֵי Ezra 8:36 2t.; suffix דָּתַיהֶם Esther 3:8; —

1 decree, edict, commission of Persian king Ezra 8:36 (word elsewhere only in Esther) Esther 2:8 ("" דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ), Esther 4:3 ("" id.) Esther 8:17 ("" id.) Esther 9:1 ("" id.; with עשׂה execute) compare also Esther 9:13; with verb נָתַן Esther 3:14,15; Esther 8:13,14; Esther 9:14; written כְּתָבהַֿדָּת Esther 4:8 (compare Esther 3:14; Esther 8:13).

2 law, permanently valid and applicable, וְיִכָּתֵב בְּדָתֵי מָּרַסוּֿמָדַי וְלֹא יַעֲבוֺר Esther 1:19 compare Esther 1:15; Esther 4:11,16; יֹדְעֵי דָּת וָדִין Esther 1:13 those that understood law and judgment; דָּתֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ Esther 3:8; of laws of the Jews in Persia Esther 3:8; even of rules for drinking at a feast Esther 1:8; for purifying of women Esther 2:12. — The distinction between 1 &

2 is not absolute. The king's will was law, and the royal edict (דְּבַר מַלְכוּת) concerning Vashti was reckoned among the laws (דָּתֵי) of the Persians & Medes (Esther 1:19). — In Deuteronomy 33:2 ᵑ0 אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֺ fire was a law for them is corrupt; many emendations proposed, compare Di; Di suggests דֹת[לַמִּ] אֵשׁ fire of flames, flaming fire, compare הַלַּמִּידִם Exodus 20:18 (but לַמִּדֹת plural in תֹ֯ not in OT unless as proper name), or (better), דֶת[יֹקֶ] אֵשׁ a burning fire, compare Isaiah 65:5 (different sense).