What does Daniel 8:10 mean?
Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 8:1–2) included symbolic references to future events (Daniel 8:3–7). These are later explained as references to the Medo-Persian and Greek empires (Daniel 8:20–22). His vision also depicts how Alexander the Great would fall, only to be replaced by four others (Daniel 8:8–9). The next notable ruler is described as a "little horn." Scholars suggest this is a reference to the infamous Antiochus IV Epiphanes. As noted here, this figure treated godly things with contempt and vile disrespect (Daniel 8:11–14, 23–25).Epiphanes blasphemed God and persecuted the Jewish people. The phrase "host of heaven" usually refers to God's heavenly armies. Here, it seems to be a symbolic representation of the people of Israel. This is not an uncommon analogy in the Bible; the Lord compared Abraham's descendants to the stars (Genesis 15:5; 22:17). Exodus 12:41 describes the Hebrews as "the hosts of the LORD." Balaam's prophecy about the Messiah refers to the Messiah as a star that comes out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17). Jeremiah 33:22 compares the offspring of David to "the host of heaven that cannot be numbered." Daniel 12:3 prophesies that, when believing Jews are resurrected, "those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."