Watches Of The Night
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [1]
The Jews reckoned three military watches: the "first" or beginning of the watches ( Lamentations 2:19), from sunset to ten o'clock; the second or "middle watch" was from ten until two o'clock ( Judges 7:19); the third, "the morning watch," from two to sunrise ( Exodus 14:24; 1 Samuel 11:11). Afterward under the Romans they had four watches ( Matthew 14:25): Luke 12:38, "even, midnight, cockcrowing, and morning" ( Mark 13:35); ending respectively at 9 p.m., midnight, 3 a.m., and 6 a.m. (compare Acts 12:4.) Watchmen patrolled the streets ( Song of Solomon 3:3; Song of Solomon 5:7; Psalms 127:1).
People's Dictionary of the Bible [2]
Watches of the Night. The original division of the night was into three watches—"the beginning of the watches," from sunset to 10 o'clock, Lamentations 2:19; "the middle watch," from 10 to 2 o'clock, Judges 7:19; and "the morning watch," from 2 o'clock to sunrise, Exodus 14:24; 1 Samuel 11:11—but after the captivity the Jews adopted the custom of Rome and Greece, which divided the twelve hours of the night into four watches, beginning with 6 in the afternoon—"even," from 6 to 9 o'clock; "midnight," from 9 to 12; "cock-crowing," from 12 to 3; and "morning," from 3 to 6. Matthew 14:25; Mark 13:35; Luke 12:38.
