Daniel 2:8

Gain the time. Literally, “buy the time.” The wise men were temporizing, and their repeated request aroused the suspicion of the king that they were seeking to gain an advantage by delay. It is doubtful whether at this point he was already seriously questioning their ability to give him the requested information. The whole fabric of his faith was built around a belief that the gods communicated with men through the various channels represented by these men. Their hesitancy to comply immediately with his request may at first have aroused his suspicion that they had conspired together to take advantage of him. If the dream contained a communication concerning action to be taken at an auspicious moment, delay would result in tragic loss. Certain communications through divinations demanded that action be undertaken at a precise moment, such as a particular conjunction of the planets. The expressions, “gain the time,” and “till the time be changed” (v. 9), may have reference to such a supposed opportune moment.