Psalms 12:6

As silver. — This solemn promise of Jehovah may be relied on, for His words are not like those of deceitful men — alloyed with self and falsehood — but are pure as silver seven times smelted.

In a furnace. — Either a “workshop” or a “crucible,” according as derived.

Of earth. — These words are difficult; they must mean either in earth, referring to the ashes in which the smelted silver falls, or as to earth, i.e., as to the alloy, or as we say, purified of the alloy.

But erets is never else used for the material, earth, and Hitzig’s emendation, rats = bar, or piece (Psalms 68:30), “melted into a bar from the crucible,” is almost convincing in its simplicity and aptness.