Daniel 8:10

This little horn grew up to the host of heaven, caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and trampled on them. The stars probably refer to the children of Israel whom God predicted would be as numerous as the stars of heaven (Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 37:9-10; cf. Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43; Enoch 46:7). [Note: Walvoord, Daniel . . ., p. 185; Driver, p. 116.] They constitute His armies (cf. Exodus 7:4; Exodus 12:17; Exodus 12:51; Numbers 33:1).

"If the world calls those men and women stars who excel in one or another department of human activity, why should not a similar statement be still more appropriate with reference to God’s people?" [Note: Leupold, p. 346.]

Many scholars regard the stars and the host of heaven as synonymous: "the host even the stars" (cf. Daniel 8:13; Exodus 12:41). [Note: E.g., ibid.; Pentecost, p. 1355; Archer, "Daniel," p. 99.] This is the appositional use of "and," which is quite common. Alternatively the host of heaven may be angels who have some connection with the Jews (the stars). The falling of the host to the earth then would picture Antiochus’ victory over these angels, and his trampling the stars down would signify his persecution of the Jews. However, Daniel 8:12 seems to indicate that the horn really controlled the host, which would be impossible if they were angels.