SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:23
Y llegado Jess a casa del principal, viendo los taedores de flautas, y la multitud que hacía bullicio,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 9:23
Verse 23. Saw the minstrels and the people making a noise] aulhtav, pipers; Anglo-Saxon, the whistlers; Gothic, haurngans haurngandans, the horn-blowers blowing with their horns. Nearly the same as the pipublasara, pipe-blowers of the Islandic: for among all those nations funeral lamentations accompanied with such rude instruments, were made at the death of relatives. That pipes were in use among the Jews, in times of calamity or death, is evident from Jer. xlviii. 36. And among the Greeks, and Romans, as well as among the Jews, persons were hired on purpose to follow the funeral processions with lamentations. See Jer. ix. 17-21; Amos v. 16. Even the poorest among the Jews were required to have two pipers, and one mourning woman. At these funeral solemnities it was usual with them to drink considerably; even ten cups of wine each, where it could be got. See Lightfoot. This custom is observed among the native Irish to this day, in what is called their CAOINAN. The body of the deceased, dressed in grave-clothes and ornamented with flowers, is placed in some eminent place; the relations and caoiners range themselves in two divisions, one at the head and the other at the feet of the corpse. Anciently, where the deceased was a great personage, the bards and croteries prepared the caoinan. The chief bard of the head chorus began by singing the first stanza in a low doleful tone; which was softly accompanied by the harp. At the conclusion, the foot semichorus began the lamentation, or ULLALOO, from the final note of the preceding stanza, in which they were answered by the head semichorus; then both united in one general chorus. The chorus of the first stanza being ended, the chief bard of the foot semichorus sung the second stanza, the strain of which was taken from the concluding note of the preceding chorus, which ended, the head semichorus began the GOL, or lamentation, in which they were answered by that of the foot, and then, as before, both united in the general full chorus. Thus alternately were the song and choruses performed during the night. I have seen a number of women, sometimes fourteen, twenty-four, or more, accompany the deceased from his late house to the grave-yard, divided into two parties on each side the corpse, singing the ULLALOO, alternately, all the way. That drinking, in what is called the wake, or watching with the body of the deceased, is practised, and often carried to a shameful excess, needs little proof. This kind of intemperance proceeded to such great lengths among the Jews that the Sanhedrin were obliged to make a decree, to restrain the drinking to ten cups each. I mention these things more particularly, because I have often observed that the customs of the aboriginal Irish bear, a very striking resemblance to those of the ancient Jews, and other Asiatic nations. The application of these observations I leave to others.
It was a custom with the Greeks to make a great noise with brazen vessels; and the Romans made a general outcry, called conclamatio, hoping either to stop the soul which was now taking its flight, or to awaken the person, if only in a state of torpor. This they did for eight days together, calling the person incessantly by his name; at the expiration of which term the phrase, Conclamatum est-all is over-there is no hope-was used. See the words used in this sense by Terence, EUN. l. 347. In all probability this was the qoruboumenon, the making a violent outcry, mentioned here by the evangelist. How often, on the death of relatives, do men incumber and perplex themselves with vain, worldly, and tumultuous ceremonies, instead of making profitable reflections on death!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And when Jesus came into the rulers house , etc.] Both Mark and Luke relate, how that before this, whilst they were in the way, and just as Christ had done speaking to the poor woman, that news was brought to the ruler, that his daughter was actually dead, and therefore need not give Jesus any further trouble; when Christ encouraged him not to be cast down at the tidings, but believe, and she should be restored again; and that he suffered none to follow him, but Peter, James, and John: and saw the minstrels , or pipers; how many there were, is not known: it is certain there were more than one; and it was a rule with the Jews that the poorest man in Israel (when his wife died) had not less ylylj ynm , than two pipes, and one mourning woman.
And since this was a daughter of a ruler of the synagogue that was dead, there might be several of them. These instruments were made use of, not to remove the melancholy of surviving friends, or allay the grief of the afflicted family; but, on the contrary, to excite it: for the Jewish writers say f583 , these pipes were hollow instruments, with which they made a known sound, lbahw hykbh rrw[l , to stir up lamentation and mourning: and for the same purpose, they had their mourning women, who answered to the pipe; and by their dishevelled hair, and doleful tones, moved upon the affections, and drew tears from others; and very likely are the persons, that Mark says, wept and wailed greatly. Sometimes trumpets were made use of on these mournful occasions f584 ; but whether these were used only for persons more advanced in years, and pipes for younger ones, as by the Heathens f585 , at least, at some times, is not certain. And the people making a noise ; the people of the house, the relations of the deceased, the neighbours, who came in on this occasion; and others, in a sort of tumult and uproar, hurrying and running about; some speaking in the praise of the dead, others lamenting her death, and others preparing things proper for the funeral; all which shew, that she was really dead: among these also, might be the mourners that made a noise for the dead; for since mourning was for the honour of the dead, therefore they obliged the heirs to hire mourning men, and mourning women, to mourn for the same f586 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 18-26 - The death of our relations should drive us to Christ, who is our life And it is high honour to the greatest rulers to attend on the Lor Jesus; and those who would receive mercy from Christ, must honour him The variety of methods Christ took in working his miracles, perhaps wa because of the different frames and tempers of mind, which those wer in who came to him, and which He who searches the heart perfectly knew A poor woman applied herself to Christ, and received mercy from him by the way. If we do but touch, as it were, the hem of Christ's garment by living faith, our worst evils will be healed; there is no other rea cure, nor need we fear his knowing things which are a grief and burde to us, but which we would not tell to any earthly friend. When Chris entered the ruler's house, he said, Give place. Sometimes, when the sorrow of the world prevails, it is difficult for Christ and his comforts to enter. The ruler's daughter was really dead, but not so to Christ. The death of the righteous is in a special manner to be looke on as only a sleep. The words and works of Christ may not at first be understood, yet they are not therefore to be despised. The people wer put forth. Scorners who laugh at what they do not understand, are no proper witnesses of the wonderful works of Christ. Dead souls are no raised to spiritual life, unless Christ take them by the hand: it is done in the day of his power. If this single instance of Christ' raising one newly dead so increased his fame, what will be his glor when all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth those that have done good to the resurrection of life, and those tha have done evil to the resurrection of damnation!
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ελθων 2064 5631 V-2AAP-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF οικιαν 3614 N-ASF του 3588 T-GSM αρχοντος 758 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ ιδων 1492 5631 V-2AAP-NSM τους 3588 T-APM αυλητας 834 N-APM και 2532 CONJ τον 3588 T-ASM οχλον 3793 N-ASM θορυβουμενον 2350 5746 V-PPP-ASM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Minstrels (aulhtav). More correctly, as Rev., flute-players, hired or volunteering as mourners.Making a noise (qoruboumenon). Rev., tumult. Representing the loud screaming and wailing by the women. It is the word used in Acts xvii. 5: "Set the city in an uproar."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
9:23 {The flute-players} (tous auletas). The girl was just dead, but already a crowd "making a tumult" (thoruboumenon) 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"n), in a sort of loud and repeated (imperfect) guffaw of scorn. Jesus overcame all this repellent environment.
