word is paired with the written word. Among these are instances when a verbal word (dābār) from the king is immediately followed by a reference to a written law (dāt), as in 1:19; 2:8; 4:3; and 9:1 (see also 9:14 and 9:32). When the book’s three edicts are sent out, the publication is described in terms of both written script and spoken language (1:21; 3:12; and twice in 8:9). These references help us to narrow our focus, then, to the author’s fascination with the relationship between written