Daniel 2:8

8 The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see I have firmly decreed:

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).

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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 do tell me the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation."

7 They answered a second time, "Let the king first tell his servants the dream, then we can give its interpretation."

8 The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see I have firmly decreed:

9 if you do not tell me the dream, there is but one verdict for you. You have agreed to speak lying and misleading words to me until things take a turn. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation."

10 The Chaldeans answered the king, "There is no one on earth who can reveal what the king demands! In fact no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.