{The flute-players} (	ous aul(8874)as). The girl was just
dead, but already a crowd "making a tumult" (	horuboumenon)
with wild wailing and screaming had gathered in the outer court,
"brought together by various motives, sympathy, money, desire to
share in the meat and drink going at such a time" (Bruce).
Besides the several flute-players (voluntary or hired) there were
probably "some hired mourning women ( Jer 9:17 ) _praeficae_,
whose duty it was to sing _naenia_ in praise of the dead"
(Bruce). These when put out by Jesus, "laughed him to scorn"
(kategel(936e)), in a sort of loud and repeated (imperfect) guffaw
of scorn. Jesus overcame all this repellent environment.