Catholic Typology
Mary the new Ark of the Covenant
Revelation 11:19 - 12.1 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Ark of the Covenant | Mary | |
Purity | the inside and outside was overlaid with pure gold (Ex 25:11) | full of grace (Lk 1:28) hence the Immaculate Conception |
after put in the tabernacle (Ex 40:21) the Glory Cloud filled the tabernacle (Ex 40:34) | Holy Spirit came upon Mary for her to conceive Jesus (Lk 1:35) | |
First to enter the promised land | carried first when crossing over the river Jordan to the land of Canaan (Josh 4:14-17) | (after Jesus) her body and soul in heaven, her glorious Assumption (Rev 11:19-12:1) |
Crushed the head of Satan | the Philistines's idol of Dagon fell down with its head cut off before the ark (1 Sam 5:4) | through her offspring Jesus will crush Satan (Gen 3:15 & Rom 16:20) |
Contained | the Word of God, his laws written on stone tablets (Ex 25:16; Dt 10:5) the jar of manna, bread from heaven (Ex 16:33-34) Aaron’s staff as symbol of high priest (Num 17:10) | Jesus, the Word became flesh (Lk 1:31; Jn 1:14) the Eucharist, the new manna (Lk 1:31; Jn 6:48-51) Jesus, eternal high priest of God (Heb 7:24) |
Arose and went to Judah | David arose and took the ark to Judah (2 Sam 6:2) | arose and went to a hill country in Judah to visit Elizabeth (Lk 1:39) |
How/why come to me? | David asked “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” (2 Sam 6:9) | Elizabeth said “why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43) |
Moved with joy before God | David danced before the ark (2 Sam 6:14) | John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth's womb (Lk 1:45) |
Loud with joy | David shouted before the ark (2 Sam 6:15) | Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry before Mary (Lk 1:42) |
Stayed three months in Judah | in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite (2 Sam 6:11) | with Elizabeth (Lk 1:56) |
Purity: the inside and outside of the ark was overlaid with pure gold (Ex 25:11); Mary is full of grace (Lk 1:28) hence the Immaculate Conception
Overshadowed by the Holy Spirit: after the ark was put in the tabernacle (Ex 40:21), the Glory Cloud filled the tabernacle (Ex 40:34); Holy Spirit came upon Mary for her to conceive Jesus (Lk 1:35)
First to enter the promised land: the ark was carried first when crossing over the river Jordan to the land of Canaan (Josh 4:14-17); (after Jesus) Mary's body and soul in heaven, her glorious Assumption (Rev 11:19-12:1)
Crushed the head of Satan: the Philistines's idol of Dagon fell down with its head cut off before the ark (1 Sam 5:4): Mary through her offspring Jesus will crush Satan (Gen 3:15 & Rom 16:20)
Hebrews 9:4 ... the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
The Ark and Mary contained
The Word of God: the stone tablets of his laws (Ex 25:16; Dt 10:5); Jesus, the Word became flesh (Lk 1:31; Jn 1:14)
Bread from heaven: the jar of manna (Ex 16:33-34); the Eucharist, the new manna (Lk 1:31; Jn 6:48-51)
The priesthood: Aaron’s staff as symbol of high priest (Num 17:10); Jesus, eternal high priest of God (Heb 7:24)
2 Samuel 6:1-11 and Luke 1:39-45,56
Arose and went to Judah: David arose and took the ark to Judah (2 Sam 6:2); Mary arose and went to a hill country in Judah to visit Elizabeth (Lk 1:39)
How/why come to me: David asked “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” (2 Sam 6:9); Elizabeth said “why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43)
Moved with joy before God: David danced (2 Sam 6:14); John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth's womb (Lk 1:45)
Loud with joy: David shouted before the ark (2 Sam 6:15); Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry before Mary (Lk 1:42)
Stayed three months in Judah: in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite (2 Sam 6:11); with Elizabeth (Lk 1:56)