John Gill Commentary Ezekiel 19:3

"And she brought up one of her whelps: he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men." — Ezekiel 19:3 (ASV)

And she brought up one of her whelps
Or sons, as the Targum: or, "made him to ascend" ^F20 , as the word signifies; to mount the throne; this was Jehoahaz, whom the people of the land took and anointed him, and made him king in the stead of Josiah his father, (2 Kings 23:30).

it become a young lion ;
that is, a king, as the same Targum explains it, and a tyrannical and arbitrary one.

and it learned to catch the prey ;
being instructed by evil counsellors, he soon learned to oppress his subjects, to get their substance from them, and do many evil things, as he is said to do, (2 Kings 23:32).

it devoured men ;
or a man, Adam, the people of Israel, so called, (Ezekiel 34:31) ; as the Jews frequently observe; it ate up and destroyed their liberties, privileges, and property.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F20: "et ascendere fecit", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version.