What are the three lions mentioned in the verse?
Rashi: Ari is big, Shachal is intermediate, and Kefir is small. Devar Eliyahu - in its youth, creations fear a lion's teeth when they are near it. When it is older, they fear its roar when they are opposite it. Later, they fear its voice even when they are far away. A lion is among the three that keep getting stronger as they age. (NOTE: Also Ohr ha'Chayim (Bereishis 49:3) says so. Our text in Shabbos 77b and Avodah Zarah 30b says only a fish, a snake and a pig! - PF)
What do we learn from the verse?
Rashi: The kings, officers and slaves all strayed.
Ibn Ezra: R. Moshe ha'Kohen explained, like a lion's roar. Hashem will make lions and Chayos rule over them 1 .
Ibn Ezra citing R. Yonah: Nita'u is like Nilta'u. This is like Malta'os (teeth) 2 .
Ibn Ezra: Hashem's anger is compared to a lion roaring over its prey. Nita'u is like Yita'u; it refers to the Kefirim (they stray without food); it does not refer to their teeth. This is like "Kol Dodi Hine Zeh Ba" (Ba refers to Dodi, and not to his voice).
Malbim: The Ari's roar and the Shachal's voice will cease, and the Kefir's sharp teeth will be uprooted. Resha'im are compared to a lion that tears with its strength. It traps its prey via roaring, to instill fear, and then holds it with its teeth. When the time of its fall comes, its tools of prey will cease, and its strength will cease.
