And it shall be the basest of the kingdoms
That belonged to the Persian monarchy, or to the Macedonian empire, being more kept under than the rest, lest it should regain its former strength and glory; though it became more famous in the times of some of the Ptolemies, yet never recovered its former greatness; and is now exceeding base indeed, as appears from the preceding note: neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations;
so as to conquer them, and make them tributary to it, as it had done: for I will demolish them, that they shall no more rule over the
nations;
for though they made war upon other nations in the time of the Lagidae, yet they did not subdue them, and annex them to their kingdom, being much weakened both as to men and money.