THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. Eleazar the priest addressed the soldiers preparing for battle, stating, “This is the commandment of the law that the Lord gave to Moses: You shall pass through fire all items made of gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead, to purify them. Additionally, those things that cannot endure fire must be passed through water. You shall wash your garments on the seventh day to achieve purification before entering the camp” (Num. 31:21-24). It is noteworthy that Moses, who spoke first, set the timeline for cleansing the conquerors but did not specify the method, which the law emblemizes through Christ.
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The second priest, Eleazar, conveyed the method of cleansing: following Moses, Christ provides the teachings, no longer focused on the timeline, which has now arrived, but reveals the way of purification, ultimately clarifying the true intention of the law.
Eleazar instructed that items withstandable by fire be purified in flames. However, more fragile objects, such as garments and items made from leather and wood, were to be purified with water. The reference to gold, silver, and similar materials is an allusion to us, the ones whom Christ has cleansed through both fire and water; we have been baptized “with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (Matt. 3:11). The process of passing through fire and water signifies the purification of us, previously under the control of darkness, which Christ redeemed by entering the strong man's house, plundering his possessions, and binding him (Matt. 12:29). Furthermore, Eleazar required that the victors enter the camp only after washing their garments on the seventh day, thus achieving their purification. Similarly, ultimate cleansing and the eradication of all impurities will come about during the final days of this world, when, as previously mentioned, sin will be completely eliminated, and human nature will return to its original beauty: “Then shall it be... and the way shall be called the holy way: the unclean shall not pass over it... And they that are redeemed by the Lord shall return” (Isaiah 35:8-10). This interpretation remains true to its intent.
If anyone wishes to contemplate this matter from another perspective, let it be acknowledged that each vessel belonging to the conquerors, whether of gold, silver, brass, or any other similar material, must endure the fire; this is reaffirmed in the words of the Apostle Paul, “the fire shall test each man's work, of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:13). Additionally, it is established that the vessels must also pass through water, as the Psalmist reveals that the souls of the righteous are tested in this very manner. David declared, “You have tested us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined... We went through fire and water, but You brought us out to a place of abundance” (Psalm 65:10-12).