Daniel 2:8

8 But the king said, "I know what you're up to - you're just playing for time. You know you're up a tree.

Daniel 2:8 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 2:8

The king answered and said, I know of certainty
I see plainly and clearly what you are at, and am fully assured you mean nothing, but that ye would gain the time:
or buy ^F6, or redeem time, as in ( Ephesians 5:16 ) , prolong time, put off the answer to longer time; spin out time, as people do in buying and selling; or have it in their possession and power when to answer; and so by gaining time, or being master of it, might hope something would turn up to their advantage, and extricate them out of their present difficulties: because ye see the thing is gone from me;
the dream he could not remember; or because the decree was certain which he had determined concerning them; (See Gill on Daniel 2:5).

---

FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Nynbz Nwtna ande yd) "quod tempus vos emitis", Pagninus, Munster; "ementes", Montanus; "vos tempus redimere", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Daniel 2:8 In-Context

6 But if you tell me both the dream and its interpretation, I'll lavish you with gifts and honors. So go to it: Tell me the dream and its interpretation."

7 They answered, "If it please your majesty, tell us the dream. We'll give the interpretation."

8 But the king said, "I know what you're up to - you're just playing for time. You know you're up a tree.

9 You know that if you can't tell me my dream, you're doomed. I see right through you - you're going to cook up some fancy stories and confuse the issue until I change my mind. Nothing doing! First tell me the dream, then I'll know that you're on the up and up with the interpretation and not just blowing smoke in my eyes."

10 The fortunetellers said, "Nobody anywhere can do what you ask. And no king, great or small, has ever demanded anything like this from any magician, enchanter, or fortuneteller.