The Refining Furnace
The word of the LORD likens the house of Israel to dross in the furnace rather than refined silver. Because they are brass, tin, iron, and lead, God will gather them into Jerusalem the way metalworkers heap ore into a smelting fire. There He will blow on them in the fire of His wrath until they melt, and by that melting they will know that the LORD has poured out His fury upon them.
T17hen the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver. 19Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because all of you have become dross, behold, I will gather you into Jerusalem. 20Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to melt with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, leave you there, and melt you. 21Yes, I will gather you together and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you will be melted within the city. 22As silver is melted in a furnace, so you will be melted within the city. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out My wrath upon you.’”