Watches of Night
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Watches of Night

The Jews, like the Greeks and Romans, divided the night into military watches instead of hours, each watch representing the period for which sentinels or pickets remained on duty. The proper Jewish reckoning recognized only three such watches, entitled the first or "beginning of the watches," (Lamentations 2:19) the middle watch, (Judges 7:19) and the morning watch. (Exodus 14:24; 1 Samuel 11:11) These would last respectively from sunset to 10 P.M.; from 10 P.M. to 2 A.M.; and from 2 A.M. to sunrise. After the establishment of the Roman supremacy, the number of watches was increased to four, which were described either according to their numerical order, as in the case of the "fourth watch," (Matthew 14:25) or by the terms "even," "midnight," "cock-crowing" and "morning." (Mark 13:35) These terminated respectively at 9 P.M., midnight, 3 A.M. and 6 A.M.

Strong's Hebrew
821. ashmoreth -- a watch
... a watch NASB Word Usage watch (4), watches (3). watch. Or bashmuwrah {ash-moo-raw'};
or -ashmoreth {ash-mo'-reth}; (feminine) from shamar; a night watch -- watch ...
/hebrew/821.htm - 6k
Library

LM Breviary. Night-Watches.
... SUPPLEMENT. 559. LM Breviary. Night-Watches. 1 Throughout the hours of
darkness dim, Still let us watch and raise the hymn; And ...
/.../559 l m breviary night-watches.htm

November 16. "Watch Therefore, for Ye Know Neither the Day" (Matt. ...
... A writer tells us of his experience with a camping party, of which he was a member,
and which, he tells us, always arranged to have watches at night. ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /november 16 watch therefore for.htm

Watch-Night Service
... 2. Again; it is not too late to cry to the Lord; for if the sun be set, and the
watches of the night have commenced their round, the mercy seat is open. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/watch-night service.htm

A Night Thought.
... 8.6.8.6 James Montgomery. A Night Thought. Thee, in the watches of the night,. My
spirit would adore,. O God! in darkness, as in light,. Defend me evermore. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccxiii a night thought.htm

Conflict.
... When the watches of the night are past? Ah! delay not, long-expected dawning! ... When
the watches of the night are past; It shall re??ppear, the welcome dawning,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/conflict.htm

Night and Day (Preached at the Chapel Royal)
... When will the night of this life be spent, and the day of God arise? ... My soul doth
wait for the Lord, more than the sick man who watches for the morning.'. ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon v night and day.htm

God who Always Watches Over his People
... PSALMS GOD WHO ALWAYS WATCHES OVER HIS PEOPLE. ... the Lord is your shade upon your right
hand; The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night! ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/god who always watches over.htm

The Night of Miracles on the Lake of Gennesaret
... of the night.' There was some difference of opinion among the Jews, whether the
night should be divided into three, or (as among the Romans) into four watches. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxx the night of.htm

Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
... Indeed, he means that the night has three watches, but he indicates by the expression
that there are night watches in heaven, as there are night watches upon ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 2 extracts from the.htm

A Night on the Lake
... Until the fourth watch of the night they toiled at the oars. ... As a mother in tender
love watches her child, so the compassionate Master watched His disciples. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 40 a night on.htm

Resources
What time was Jesus crucified? What time did Jesus die on the cross? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son? | GotQuestions.org

What are watchmen in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Watches: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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