דָּת

n.f. Est 3:15; 4:11; decree, law, usage, only in Persian period (Biblical Aramaic NH id., Syriac ܕܰܬܳܐ or ܕܳܬܳܐ Pers. loan-w., Old Pers. dâta, law, SpiegAPK 225)—ד׳ abs. Est 1:8 + 9 times; cstr. דַּת Est 2:12, דָּת 9:13; sf. דָּתוֹ Est 2:8 + 4 times; pl. cstr. דָּתֵי Ezr 8:36 + 2 times; sf. דָּתֵיהֶם Est 3:8;— decree, edict, commission of Pers. king Ezr 8:36 (word elsewhere only in Est) Est 2:8 (‖ דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ), 4:3 (‖ id.) 8:17 (‖ id.) 9:1 (‖ id.; c. עשׂה execute) cf. also 9:13; c. vb. נָתַן 3:14, 15; 8:13, 14; 9:14; written כְּתָב־הַדָּת 4:8 (cf. 3:14; 8:13). law, permanently valid and applicable, וְיִכָּתֵב בְּדָתֵי פָרַס־וּמָדַי וְלֹא יַעֲבוֹר Est 1:19 cf. v 15; 4:11, 16; יֹדְעֵי דָּת וָדִין 1:13 those that understood law and judgment; דָּתֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ 3:8; of laws of the Jews in Persia 3:8; even of rules for drinking at a feast 1:8; for purifying of women 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 (1:19).—In Dt 33:2 MT אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ fire was a law for them is corrupt; many emend. proposed, cf. Di; Di suggests אֵשׁ [לַפִּ]דֹת fire of flames, flaming fire, cf. הַלַּפִּידִם Ex 20:18 (but לַפִּדֹת pl. in ת—ֹ not in OT unless as n.pr.), or (better), אֵשׁ [יֹקֶ]דֶת a burning fire, cf. Is 65:5 (diff. sense).