Matthew Poole and continuators on Amos 6:10

10 And a mans uncle shall take him up , and he that burneth him , to bring out the bones out of the house , and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house , Is there yet any with thee ? and he shall say , No: then shall he say , Hold thy tongue ; for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.

Or some near Kinsman.

Instead of those Mercenaries who were wont to do this, and were paid for it, but now none of these to be had, the next to the dead must as well as he is able take him up on his shoulders, and carry him, i. e. the last of the Ten, the other nine being dead.

Though the Iews mostly buried yet in some cases they burned the dead bodies as in this of wasting Pestilence when they could not carry them out either for fear of infecting others or for want of help.

All that remain'd. The flesh of the dead being consumed to Ashes; the Bones are reserved to be buried, and laid up in some Sepulchre of their Ancestors.

He that doth this Office for the last of his dead friends shall enquire

Of one he seeth either dwelling near, and by the sides of the house out of which the bones are carried, or else of some that lay undiscerned in the corner of the house where so many died.

Is any one living in this your house, hath any one escaped?

The Man of whom the Uncle, or whoever carried out the bones, enquireth.

Then shall the Enquirer say.

Either murmur not against God, or mourn not, for so sad is the time that the dead are happier than the living, or say nothing lest all be rifled from thee. For such inhumanity was among them that there were those who would dare to rifle infected houses. Or else which suits next words be silent under Gods just displeasure.

Now 'tis too late to seek God who is executing his immutable Decree and Sentence which we were advised to prevent, but did not in season.

Marginal references: chap. 5.13. and 8.3.; Or, they will not, or, have not.