Ezekiel 22:17-20

The Lord also compared the present Judahites to the base metals (lead, sulfur, and other minerals) that separate from silver in the refining process. He planned to gather them in Jerusalem, His crucible, and subject them to a trial by fire, as refiners do to extract any remaining silver from the dross (cf. Isaiah 1:22-25; Isaiah 48:10; Jeremiah 6:27-30; Jeremiah 9:7; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2-4). [Note: See Allen, Ezekiel 20-48, p. 38, for a description of the smelting process.] Punishment for sin involves three major things: retribution, correction, and purification. [Note: Stuart, p. 212.] Here purification is in view.