The flute players at the ruler’s house were professional mourners, as well as some of the crowd. Some of the crowd were also friends of this prominent family, as well as family members. Funerals at the time were always on the same day as the death (Acts 5:5–6,Acts 5:10), partly due to the area’s warm climate and partly because a corpse would make the home unclean (Numbers 19:11–14).
Following the interruption described in Matthew 9:19–22, Jesus arrives at the home of the ruler where he had been travelling to (Matthew 9:18). The people there had already begun mourning the death of his daughter. At the time it was common for even the poorest of people to hire at least two flute players (to accompany the lamentations) as well as one professional mourner to be present at their funeral. Here there were undoubtedly many mourners present for this was a very prominent family. Funerals at the time always took place on the same day as the death (Acts 5:5–6, Acts 5:10), in part because of the region’s warm climate and in part because a corpse would render the home unclean (Numbers 19:11–14).1
23 Lorsque Jésus fut arrivé à la maison du chef, et qu'il vit les joueurs de flûte et la foule bruyante,