Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Ver. 10. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver.] Much less as gold, which is wont to be fined most exactly, and to the uttermost, because these precious metals will not perish by fire. But thou hast more dross in thee than good ore; therefore I have refined thee with favour, Psa 118:18 Ne totus disperires, lest I should undo thee; for if thy punishment should be commensurate to thine offence thou must needsly perish. a
I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction,] i.e., In affliction, which is as a furnace or crucible. See Ezekiel 20:37 .
a Non agam summo iure tecum. - Jun.