When Jesus came to the ruler’s house, he saw the flute players and the distressed crowd,
In this passage Jesus comes to the ruler’s house, where the ruler’s daughter was already dead, and in the house there were flute players and distressed people. In ancient Israel, when someone died, it was customary to call flute players to the house, who expressed mourning through their music. Here the confused, distressed crowd represents the atmosphere of grief that prevailed there. When Jesus comes to the ruler’s house, he encounters that sorrowful and hopeless situation.