Eilat Stone

Eilat stone is the national mineral of Israel and is named after the city of Eilat in the far south, in the vicinity of which the stone was exclusively mined. I understand that production stopped in the 1980s on account of the mine’s exhaustion. This has increased its value and the cheapest way I could obtain some was in a bizarre resin paperweight, doubtless originating from some stall of tourist tat.

The attractive mineral is sometimes called King Solomon’s Stone, as the great Jewish king is said to have first mined it, adding both to his vast wealth and embellishing his beautiful building projects:

I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces…So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem… (Ecc 2:8a, 9a)

Sadly, Solomon’s beauty, power, wealth and even wisdom were corrupted and compromised by his later idolatry. I always feel so grieved by that great man’s fall; not only was it a great personal tragedy and national disaster for ancient Israel but a stark and terrible warning for us today. I might believe in the ‘perseverance of the saints’ and trust that God will keep hold of me despite my built-in desire to wander off and backslide, but I am also conscious of those multiple warnings against turning away with which the scriptures are awash. If great, beautiful Solomon drifted and fell, what hope has little me?? I am inferior to him in every single respect; if his stone is beautiful Eilat, mine is a chip of common cement or crumbling sandstone. Such things have deeply troubled me, which, on reflection, are signs that the Lord is keeping me, for the backslider is not burdened by such thoughts. Nevertheless, our weakness and ugliness are in stark contrast to the strong and beautiful One in whose hands we are kept. A Greater than Solomon rules from David’s throne, and He mines (and retains) greater beauty than Eilat:

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

A D