Catholic Typology
Jesus the new Solomon
Matthew 12:42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon  is here.
Solomon | Jesus | |
Son of God | first individual known as an adopted son (2 Sam 7:12-14) | only begotten Son Jesus (Jn 3:16) |
Son of David | born of Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:24) | from Joseph's ancestral line (Mt 1:1) and called Son of David by a blind beggar (Mk 10:47) |
Entered Jerusalem on a donkey | rode king David's mule before anointed king (1 Kg 1:38-39) | triumphal entry (Mt 21:1-11) |
Anointed at a river | as king at Gihon (1 Kg 1:38-39) | his baptism at the River Jordan (Mt 3:13) |
Queen mother interceded to him | Adonijah asked Bathsheba (1 Kg 2:13-19) knowing Solomon would not refuse her request (1 Kg 2:20) | through Mary to Jesus (Jn 2:3-5) |
Full of wisdom | his request to God which was granted (1 Kg 3:7-12,28) | wisdom of God (Mk 6:2 & 1 Cor 1:24) |
Wisdom tested | judged between two prostitutes who both claimed to be the mother of a baby (1 Kg 3:16-28) | tested by the Pharisees about paying taxes to Caesar and by the Sadducees about the resurrection (Mt 22:15-33) |
Appointed twelve helpers | had 12 officers over all Israel who helped the king and his house (1 Kg 4:7) | chose12 apostles who helped the King to establish his kingdom the Church to all the nations (Mk 3:14 & Mt 28:19-20) |
Symbolised as vine | the people of Israel and Judah lived safely under the vine of Solomon (1 Kg 4:25) | the true vine (Jn 15:1) |
Teacher | spoke proverbs (1 Kgs 4:32) | taught in parables (Mt 13) |
Built the temple | the first temple in Jerusalem (1 Kg 6:1) | the Church, the new temple, the Body of Christ on earth (Mt 16:18; Jn 2:19-22; Rom 12:4-5) |
Allowed Gentiles to help build the temple | King of Tyre provided cedars and cypress from Lebanon (1 Kg 5:1-12) | the Church is commissioned by Jesus to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:18-20) e.g. first Gentiles were Roman Cornelius's household (Acts 10) |
Priestly king as heir of David | offered sacrifice during the dedication of the temple (1 Kg 8:64) | eternal high priest (Heb 5:10, 7:24) |
Given homage and gifts from Gentiles | by Queen of Sheba (1 Kg 10:1-13) | by the Magi (Mt 2:10-11) |
Son of God: adopted son Solomon is the first individual known as this (2 Sam 7:12-14); only begotten Son Jesus (Jn 3:16)
Son of David: Solomon born of Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:24); Jesus from Joseph's ancestral line (Mt 1:1) and called Son of David by a blind beggar (Mk 10:47)
Entered Jerusalem on a donkey: Solomon rode
king David's mule before anointed king (1 Kg 1:38-39); Jesus's triumphal entry (Mt 21:1-11)
Anointed at a river: Solomon as king at Gihon (1 Kg 1:38-39); Jesus's baptism at the River Jordan (Mt 3:13)
Queen mother interceded to him: Adonijah asked Bathsheba (1 Kg 2:13-19) knowing Solomon would not refuse her request (1 Kg 2:20); through Mary to Jesus (Jn 2:3-5)
Full of wisdom: Solomon's request to God which was granted (1 Kg 3:7-12,28); Jesus having the wisdom of God (Mk 6:2 & 1 Cor 1:24)
Wisdom tested: Solomon judged between two prostitutes who both claimed to be the mother of a baby (1 Kg 3:16-28); Jesus tested by the Pharisees about paying taxes to Caesar and by the Sadducees about the resurrection (Mt 22:15-33)
Appointed twelve helpers: Solomon had 12 officers over all Israel who helped the king and his house (1 Kg 4:7); Jesus chose12 apostles who helped the King to establish his kingdom, the Church to all the nations (Mk 3:14 & Mt 28:19-20)
Symbolised as vine: the people of Israel and Judah lived safely under the vine of Solomon (1 Kg 4:25); fulfilled by Jesus as the true vine (Jn 15:1)
Teacher: Solomon spoke proverbs (1 Kgs 4:32); Jesus taught in parables (Mt 13)
Built the temple: the first temple in Jerusalem (1 Kg 6:1); the Church, the new temple, the Body of Christ on earth (Mt 16:18; Jn 2:19-22; Rom 12:4-5)
Allowed Gentiles to help build the temple: King of Tyre provided Solomon with the cedars and cypress from Lebanon (1 Kg 5:1-12); the Church is commissioned by Jesus to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:18-20) e.g. first Gentiles were Roman Cornelius's household (Acts 10)
Priestly king as heir of David: Solomon offered sacrifice during the dedication of the temple (1 Kg 8:64); Â Jesus the eternal high priest (Heb 5:10, 7:24)
Given homage and gifts from Gentiles: Queen of Sheba to Solomon (1 Kg 10:1-13); the Magi to Jesus (Mt 2:10-11)