Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 22:18

"Son of man, the house of Israel is become dross unto me: all of them are brass and tin and iron and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are the dross of silver." — Ezekiel 22:18 (ASV)

Become dross. —The second prophecy (Ezekiel 22:17–22) focuses on a figure taken from the refining of silver, which is a favourite one with the prophets (Jeremiah 6:29; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3). The particular appropriateness of this figure has often been noted because the completion of the process of refining silver in the furnace was determined by the parting of the floating dross and the reflection of the image of the refiner from its molten surface. This figure, while depicting the punishment of Israel, shows clearly that this punishment was for the purpose of purification.