Ezekiel 22:18-22

The house of Israel is to me become dross “Their filthiness may be fitly compared to the mixture of dross and baser metals with the pure silver: and as that is purified by being melted in a furnace or crucible, so Jerusalem, when it is set on fire, shall be the furnace into which I will cast them and their wickedness to be consumed: compare Jeremiah 6:28. God's severe judgments are expressed by the furnace of affliction, (Isaiah 48:10,) and compared to a refiner's fire, (Malachi 3:2; Isaiah 1:25,) because they are designed to purge men from that dross and corruption which are too often the effect of ease and prosperity.” Lowth. As they gather silver, so will I gather you From all parts. I will, by a secret, overruling providence, bring you into Jerusalem, as into a furnace where you may be consumed. And I will blow upon you in the fire of my wrath I will stir or blow up the fire of my wrath against you. God's vengeance is often compared to fire, but here it was so in a literal sense, when both city and temple were consumed by fire, 2 Kings 25:9.