H1881. dath
דָּת noun feminine[Est 3:15] decree, law, usage, only in Persian period (Biblical Aramaic Late Hebrew id., Syriac or ; Persian loan-word, Old Persian dâta, law, SpiegAPK 225) — ׳ד absolute [1:8-9]t.; construct דַּת [2:12], דָּת [9:13]; suffix דָּתוֺ [2:8] [4]t.; plural construct דָּתֵי [Ezra 8:36] [2]t.; suffix דָּתַיהֶם [Est 3:8]; —
1 decree, edict, commission of Persian king [Ezra 8:36] (word elsewhere only in Esther) [Est 2:8] (|| הַמֶּלֶךְ דְּבַר), [4:3] (|| id.) [8:17] (|| id.) [9:1] (|| id.; with עשׂה execute) compare also [9:13]; with verb נָתַן [3:14-15], [8:13-14], [9:14]; written כְּתָבהַֿדָּת [4:8] (compare [3:14]; [8:13]).
2 law, permanently valid and applicable, יַעֲבוֺר וְלֹא מָּרַסוּֿמָדַי בְּדָתֵי וְיִכָּתֵב [Est 1:19] compare [1:15]; [4:11], [16]; וָדִין דָּת יֹדְעֵי [1:13] those that understood law and judgment; הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּתֵי [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 (מַלְכוּת דְּבַר) concerning Vashti was reckoned among the laws (דָּתֵי) of the Persians & Medes ([Est 1:19]). — In [Deut 33:2] לָמוֺ דָּת אֵשׁ ᵑ0 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 [Exod 20:18] (but לַמִּדֹת plural in תֹ֯ not in OT unless as proper name), or (better), דֶת[יֹקֶ] אֵשׁ a burning fire, compare [Isa 65:5] (different sense).