The tumult - The confusion and weeping of the assembled people.

Wailed - Making inarticulate, mournful sounds; howling for the dead.

He cometh - But ερχονται, they come, is the reading of ABCDF, four others, and several versions.

Wept and wailed - See on Matthew 9:23 (note).

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue,.... Along with him, and the three disciples above mentioned; and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read, "and they came", the above persons:

and seeing the tumult; the throng and crowd of people, of relations, friends, neighbours, and acquaintance, on this occasion, all in a hurry, and in one motion or another, expressing their concern by words and gestures.

And them that wept and wailed bitterly; the mourning women, the same with the "preficae" of the Romans, who sung mournful songs, and made hideous noises, being hired for this purpose; as also those who played doleful tunes on musical instruments; See Gill on Matthew 9:23.

Seeth (θεωρεῖ)

Rev., beholdeth. See on Mark 5:15.

Wailing (ἀλαλάζοντας)

A descriptive word of the hired mourners crying al-a-lai!

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

5:38 Them that wept and wailed greatly. At a Jewish funeral were professional mourners called by Matthew minstrels (Mt 9:23). It is still the funeral fashion in the East.

38. And he cometh-rather, "they come."

to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly-"the minstrels and the people making a noise" (Mt 9:23)-lamenting for the dead. (See 2Ch 35:25; Jer 9:20; Am 5:16).

5:35-43 We may suppose Jairus hesitating whether he should ask Christ to go on or not, when told that his daughter was dead. But have we not as much occasion for the grace of God, and the comfort of his Spirit, for the prayers of our ministers and Christian friends, when death is in the house, as when sickness is there? Faith is the only remedy against grief and fear at such a time. Believe the resurrection, then fear not. He raised the dead child to life by a word of power. Such is the gospel call to those who are by nature dead in trespasses and sins. It is by the word of Christ that spiritual life is given. All who saw it, and heard of it, admired the miracle, and Him that wrought it. Though we cannot now expect to have our dead children or relatives restored, we may hope to find comfort under our trials.