THEOSISJerome of Stridon
And the Lord spoke to me, saying, “Son of man, the nation of Israel has turned from Me and become like worthless metal. All of you, who are akin to copper, tin, iron, and lead, have been rendered as ash in the refining process. Therefore, declares the Sovereign Lord, since you have all become ashes, I will gather you together in the heart of Jerusalem, just as they combine silver, brass, tin, and lead within the crucible, and I will ignite a fire among you to melt you down. I will assemble you in My fury and My wrath, and I will bring you to a state of refinement through fire. You shall be melted within it; just as silver is refined in a crucible, so you shall be refined, and you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out My wrath upon you.
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The Hebrew term for this, as translated by various scholars, carries the connotation of dross or residue. In earlier translations, it denotes the refuse from the purification of metals, suggesting that fire symbolizes the impending captivity or the threat of destruction upon the city. Thus, through the metaphor of melting, pure silver will emerge from what has been tainted by the mingling with copper, tin, iron, and lead. Copper, tin, and lead yield molten matter and are purged by fire. Conversely, iron is softened and shaped through the skilled hands of the craftsman with hammer and anvil.
Just as impure silver is cast into the crucible to extract the dross and foreign elements, so I will assemble you in Jerusalem and encircle you with the siege of Babylon, igniting a purifying fire among you. As the searing flames accomplish their task, famine and disease will carry out a similar judgment here. When I ignite you with My fury, I will eventually calm you, and though I will avenge you for your forsaking of Me, I will do so in a way that the outcome of your punishment reveals My nature to you, and you will come to know that I am the Lord, the ultimate judge and rewarder.
It is notable that references to the purifying fire of God can be found in various texts, particularly in Malachi and Isaiah. Malachi proclaims that the Lord will come as a refiner’s fire, cleansing the descendants of Levi. Isaiah speaks of the Lord washing away the impurity from the people of Zion with the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning. This is echoed in the Psalms, where it is stated, “Test me, O Lord, and try me; ignite my womb and my heart.”
What was stated concerning Jerusalem can also be related to the state of the souls that God created pure. Wisdom is likened to gold, and eloquence to silver, intended to articulate the insights of the mind. Of silver, it is written, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times.” In a similar vein, the 67th Psalm likens the beauty of the faithful to silver and gold. The glory of the King’s daughter is acknowledged, and in the Song of Songs, it is expressed that the King has brought me into His embrace. The individual who rests between the two Covenants is adorned with the gleaming wings of a dove and shines with the brilliance of gold in the treasury of the heart.
Thus, it follows that for sinners deserving of divine wrath, a heaven of brass and an earth of iron await, akin to how the Lord called Israel out of Egypt, portrayed as an iron furnace. Additionally, Zechariah speaks of wickedness sitting on a weight of lead, while the song of Exodus mentions, “They sank like lead in the water.” This illustrates how they were burdened beneath their transgressions and could truthfully declare, “A heavy burden is laid upon me.” Just as false brass resembles gold and tin mimics silver, the untrained eye may be deceived.
Frequently, the impurities found in both gold and silver are separated by the purging fire of the Holy Spirit and divine judgment, allowing pure gold and silver to emerge. As the prophet indicated, “I gave them silver and gold, but they made an idol out of them.” Similarly, “I have ventured out with silver and gold, yet there is no pain in their tribes.” Ultimately, the goal of all discipline is to bring recognition of the Lord’s sovereignty. We also see mentions of tin within the context of Zechariah, and its significance has been elaborated in other discussions.