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 Jeremiah 22:17 ) .