“People weeping and wailing loudly”
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly… 'Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.' And they laughed at Him. (Mark 5:38–40 BSB)
What it sounds like today
Odd: why are musicians at a deathbed?
The cultural key
Professional mourning began the moment of death: the Mishnah rules that even the poorest husband must hire 'not less than two flutes and one wailing woman' for a funeral. Burial happened the same day, so by the time Jesus arrives the paid mourners are already in full performance, which is why they can pivot instantly from wailing to laughing at him. Mark has the wailing but no flute players; the flutes are Matthew's detail. Mark adds what Matthew omits: the Aramaic words spoken to the girl, Talitha cumi (see that entry), and the homely instruction that she be given something to eat.
Recovered meaning
The scene certifies the girl is really dead (the professionals have been engaged), and their scornful laughter measures exactly how impossible what happens next was understood to be.