Remember, he saw the vision, then an angel showed him what was meant by the vision.
So in the vision he saw this:
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
And the angel translated for him:
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
This is perhaps the best we can do since neither Gabriel or Daniel made it any clearer. I have not received any special revelation on these verses. I can only read them as you do. It would seem, reading between the lines, there was a great spiritual battle going on behind the people involved. It also seems that for a while the demonic forces were winning. Remember: "But NOT by his own power. He had demonic help, probably Satan himself or at least a ruler class demon. Where was Michael during this time? God does not tell us. Just the fact that he was "prospering" tells me that for a while the demonic forces were winning. So my guess is the "host" would be angels on God's side, and the "stars" would be those Jews that were dedicated to God and His purposes. By "stamping" on them, I picture him as being braggadocios about preventing them from practicing their religion and conscience.
to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Remember, Antiochus did not consider the temple as off limits to him or his men. He sacrificed a pig on the altar. Then he set up an image of Zeus....probably in the holy of holies! In doing this, he was trampling on the "host"; either the Jews or or God's angels that were to protect the Jews, or both.
Just a Gentile entering the temple would fit the temple being "trampled." But I am sure Antiochus had an army with him, so it is likely MANY gentiles entered the temple.
There are two "hosts" being written of here; the heavenly host or angels, and a demonic force sent to help Antiochus.
10...it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host,
I believe this is speaking of a heavenly host; angels, and the prince of the host, a pre-incarnate Lord.
12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
I believe this is a host of fallen angels. They were allowed to come because of the transgressions of the Jews. They opened the door to demonic attacks by sinning against God. It was this demonic "host" that cast the truth to the ground and that prospered. Perhaps the secret as to WHY this demonic force was allowed to prosper goes right back to "transgression."
13 ..., to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
I think this is speaking of the heavenly host, angels. As long as the demonic force was prospering, the heavenly host was being "trodden under foot."
I really think all this is speaking of what happened THEN, not sometime in the future.
the "Pulpit" commentary has this to say:
"The crucial point is - What is the meaning of the "host of heaven"? The general consensus of interpreters is that this refers to Israel. Some maintain that the best of heaven is Israel, and the stars their leaders (Glassins); the stars are the Levites (Grotius). Moses Stuart would hold the host to be the priests, and the stars the teachers."
It also shows that the Septuagint has an entirely different reading for these difficult verses, that it (the horn) was magnified to heaven and HEAVEN cast it down! However, both the Peshitta and the Vulgate agree with the Massoretic against the Septuagint.
This is possible, it is just not what I think this is saying. However, I know NOTHING of Hebrew. I have to go by other's translations.
Gill had this to say:
"And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven,.... The people of the Jews, the army of the living God, the church militant, among whom were many of the citizens of heaven, whose names are written there; such was the insolence of this king, as to molest and disturb them:"
I think he is far off from the truth. However, it seems I am way outnumbered; all of the commentaries think the "host of heaven" must refer to the Jewish leaders.
In the end, I don't have a good answer for you. I am only guessing. I don't like to guess. Revealed knowledge is much better....I just don't have it on this. However, you asked, so I gave it my best guess!
LAMAD