Numbers 31:23

Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire ,.... Either through the smoke of the fire, and so be purified by suffumigation; or be put into the fire itself, where though they might be melted as the above things, yet not consumed as raiment, and vessels of skins, goats' hair, and wood, would be:

and it shall be clean ; accounted so:

nevertheless, it shall be purified with the water of separation ; with the water mixed with the ashes of the red heifer burnt, and sprinkled on it; see Numbers 19:9 .

and all that abideth not the fire ; without being consumed, as whatsoever is of wood, &c.;

ye shall make go through the water ; dip them in it, and rinse them there with a quantity sufficient; which the Targum of Jonathan says is forty seahs of water.