The minstrels— The musicians or pipers, Heylin; the players on the flute, Beausobre and Lenfant. It was the custom among the Jews to have musical instruments at funerals, whereon mournful tunes were played. See Jeremiah 48:5; Jeremiah 48:36.
Some learned authors observe, that the trumpet was used at the funerals of grown or old persons, and the flute at those of children; such as was the daughter of Jairus, who was but twelve years old. Concerning the usual lamentations at funerals, see the note on Jeremiah 9:17 the introductory one to the book of Lamentations, and Explication des Textes Difficiles, p. 531.