the children of the bridechamber The friends of the bridegroom the paranymphs who accompanied him to meet the bride and her maidens; Judges 14:11. The question would be specially forcible to John's disciples who had heard him speak of "the joy of the friend of the bridegroom" (John 3:29).

fast St Matthew (Matthew 9:15) uses the word - mourn" which makes the antithesis more striking (John 16:20).

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