And he went up and down among the lions, and became a lion: and he learned to catch the prey, and to devour men.

And it goeth up and down in the midst of lions, A young lion it hath been, And it learneth to tear prey, man it hath devoured.

And he went up and down among the lions and became a young lion, learning to go after beasts for his food; and he took men for his meat.

And he advanced among the lions, and he became a lion. And he learned to seize prey and to devour men.

Et incessit in medio leonum, leo fuit, et didicit praedari praedam, [242] homines voravit.

Ezekiel confirms what I have already briefly touched on, that this second lion was no less savage and cruel than the former, of which he had spoken. As to the phrase, he walked among lions, it means that his government was tyrannical, since there was then such foul barbarity in those regions, that, kings were scarcely human in their conduct. Since, therefore, kings were then everywhere like lions, the Prophet says that Jehoiakim was not different from them, but in every sense their ally. He walked, therefore, he says, in the midst of lions, since he imitated their ferocity, which at length he expresses more clearly, that he became a lion, and was taught to seize his prey, so as to devour not only animals, but men, thus marking his extreme cruelty. He afterwards adds --

And he went up and down among the lions - He became a perfect heathen, and made Judea as idolatrous as any of the surrounding nations. He reigned eleven years, a monster of iniquity, 2-Kings 23:30, etc.

And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, [and] devoured (e) men.
(e) He slew the prophets and them that feared God and ravished their wives.

And he went up and down among the lions,.... The kings, as the Targum; kings of neighbouring nations, as Pharaoh king of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and sometimes he was subject to the one, and sometimes to the offer: and his going up and down among them may denote his continuance as a king; for whereas his brother reigned but three months, he reigned eleven years:
he became a young lion; an oppressive prince, a cruel and tyrannical king:
and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men; he was notorious for his acts of injustice and arbitrary power; for the detaining the wages of workmen, and for his oppression, violence, and rapine, and shedding of innocent blood, Jeremiah 22:13.

went up and down among the lions--imitated the recklessness and tyranny of the surrounding kings (Jeremiah 22:13-17).
catch . . . prey--to do evil, gratifying his lusts by oppression (2-Kings 23:37).

He - Jehoiachim. Went up - He continued eleven years on the throne; whereas Jehoahaz was taken as soon as he first ventured out. The lions - Heathen kings, with whom he entered into leagues. He became - Fierce, ravenous, unsatiable.