The horn -waxed great," in the vision, not only over the surface of the earth (Daniel 8:9); it even towered up to heaven, struck and hurled down to the earth some of the stars, and then trampled contumeliously upon them.

even to as far as, so as even to reach. Cf. Isaiah 14:13-14; Job 20:6; and 2Ma 9:10, -the man (Ant. Ep.) that a little afore supposed himself to touch the stars of heaven." The -host of heaven" are the stars (as Deuteronomy 4:19; Jeremiah 8:2; Jeremiah 33:22, and elsewhere) [323]. Antiochus did not merely (cf. the passages quoted) touchheaven in his pride: he is represented further, with allusion to his insolent assaults upon the religion of the Jews, and to the martyrs who fell in consequence (Daniel 8:24; cf. 1Ma 1:24; 1Ma 1:30; 1Ma 1:57; 1Ma 1:63, &c.), as audaciously attacking it, and hurling down some of the stars to the earth.

[323] See Host of Heaven in Hasytings" Dict. of the Bible. It denotes them as a disciplined army, obedient to the commands of its leader (Isaiah 40:26).

and it cast, &c. better, R.V. and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled (Daniel 8:7) upon them. The stars are intended to symbolize the faithful Israelites: cf. Enoch xlvi. 7.

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