Numbers 31:23

the water of impurity] Its preparation and use are described in ch. 19.

to go through water] i.e. ordinary pure water, not the -water of impurity" as R.V. suggests. Objects which will stand the fire must pass throughit, and then their purification must be completed by the application of the specially prepared mixture. Objects, on the other hand, which cannot stand the fire, must pass throughordinary water instead of fire. It is perhaps implied that their purification must afterwards be completed, as in the former case, by the special mixture.