1 Kings — Chapter 4

Juda and Israel innumerable as the sand of the sea: Lapide: \"At the time of Solomon the tribe of Juda and the eleven tribes of Israel increased to an innumerable multitude, and there was then the greatest abundance of all things.\" Allegorically, the felicity of Solomon's kingdom represents the supreme happiness of Christ's kingdom in the Church by grace, and in heaven by glory.

Solomon's wisdom exceeded that of Egypt and the East: Lapide notes Solomon surpassed not only Trismegistus, Orpheus, Homer, Plato, Solon, Lycurgus, and Aristotle — whose wisdom was acquired by study — but also Abraham, Moses, and David, since Solomon's was infused directly by God. Only Christ is excepted.