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22 ‘Only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23 everything that may stand the fire, you are to pass through the fire,[a] and it will be ceremonially clean, but it must still be purified with the water of purification. Anything that cannot withstand the fire you must pass through the water. 24 You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you will be ceremonially clean, and afterward you may enter the camp.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 31:23 sn Purification by fire is unique to this event. Making these metallic objects “pass through the fire” was not only a way of purifying (burning off impurities), but it seems to be a dedicatory rite as well to the Lord and his people. The aspect of passing through the fire is one used by these pagans for child sacrifice.

22 Gold, silver, bronze, iron,(A) tin, lead 23 and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire,(B) and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing.(C) And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. 24 On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean.(D) Then you may come into the camp.(E)

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