Mark 5:38

Jesus dismissed one crowd but found another one waiting for Him at Jairus’ house. [Note: Swete, p. 107.] As was customary, paid mourners were already at work weeping, wailing, singing, playing flutes, and clapping their hands (cf. Jeremiah 9:17; Amos 5:16). [Note: Cf. H. Van der Loos, The Miracles of Jesus, p. 568.] The Mishnah specified that even the poorest husband had to hire at least two flute players and one female to wail when his wife died. [Note: Mishnah Ketuboth 4:4.] Evidently the little girl’s death was so expected that mourners were ready the moment she died.