Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 8:10

"And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them." — Daniel 8:10 (ASV)

And it grew great - It became very powerful. This was eminently true of Antiochus, after having subdued Egypt, and so on.

Even to the host of heaven - Margin, against. The Hebrew word (עד (‛ad)) means “to” or “unto,” and the natural idea would seem to be that he wished to place himself among the stars, or to exalt himself above all that was earthly. Compare the notes at Isaiah 14:13: For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

Lengerke supposes that the meaning here is that he not only carried his conquests to Egypt and to the East, and to the holy land in general, but that he made war on the holy army of God—the priests and worshippers of Jehovah, here spoken of as the host of heaven. So Maurer understands it. In 2 Maccabees 9:10, Antiochus is described in this language: And the man that thought a little before he could reach the stars of heaven, and so on. The connection would seem to demand the interpretation proposed by Lengerke and Maurer, for it is immediately said that he cast down some of the host and the stars to the ground.

And such an interpretation accords with the language used elsewhere of the priests and rulers of the Hebrew people. Thus, in Isaiah 24:21, they are called the host of the high ones that are on high. See the note at that passage.

This language is by no means uncommon in the Scriptures. It is usual to compare princes and rulers, and especially ecclesiastical rulers, with the sun, moon, and stars.

Undoubtedly, the design here is to describe the pride and ambition of Antiochus and to show that he did not think anything too exalted for his aspiration. None were too high or too sacred to be secure from his attempts to overthrow them, and even those who, by their position and character, seemed to deserve to be spoken of as suns and stars, as “the host of heaven,” were not secure.

And it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground - The horn seemed to grow up to the stars, and to wrest them from their places, and to cast them to the earth. Antiochus, in the fulfillment of this, cast down and trampled on the princes, and rulers, and people, of the holy host or army of God. All that is implied in this was abundantly fulfilled in what he did to the Jewish people. Compare 1 Maccabees 1, and 2 Maccabees 8:2.

And stamped upon them - With indignation and contempt. Nothing could better express the conduct of Antiochus toward the Jews.