Concise Bible Dictionary:
There were with the Israelites three night watches:
1. From sunset (about 6 P.M.) to 10 P.M. (Lam. 2:19).
2. The middle watch, from 10 P.M. to 2 A.M. (Judg. 7:19).
3. From 2 A.M. till sunrise (1 Sam. 11:11).
Under the Romans there were four night watches, agreeing with the changes of the Roman guards, each being of three hours’ duration, from sunset to sunrise. They were sometimes called evening, midnight, cock-crowing, and morning (Matt. 14:25; Matt. 24:43; Mark 6:48; Mark 13:35; Luke 12:38).
“121. Night Watches” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Exodus 14:24. It came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians.
Before the captivity, the Hebrews divided the night into three watches. The first was from sunset to ten o’clock; the second from ten o’clock to two; the third from two o’clock to sunrise. The first was called the “beginning of the watches” (Lam. 2:19). The second was called the “middle watch” (Judg. 7:19). The third was called the “morning watch,” as in the text, and also in 1 Samuel 11:11.
This mode of dividing time is also referred to in Psalm 63:6; 119:148. The Psalmist meditated on God and his word in the “night-watches.” a later method of dividing the watches, see note on Mark 13:35 (#743).
“743. Night Watches” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Mark 13:35. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning.
The earliest division of the night into watches is noticed in the note on Exodus 14:24 (#121). After the Jews became subject to the Roman power they adopted the Roman method of dividing the watches. These watches were four: the first being from sunset to three hours later; the second from this time to midnight; the third from midnight to three hours before sunrise; and the fourth from this time to sunrise. These four watches are all alluded to in the text, the first being called “even,” the second “midnight,” the third “cockcrowing,” and the fourth “morning”; the names indicating the time when the watch terminated.
This mode of dividing the night is also referred to in Matt 14:25; 24:43; Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38.
“743. Night Watches” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Mark 13:35. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning.
The earliest division of the night into watches is noticed in the note on Exodus 14:24 (#121). After the Jews became subject to the Roman power they adopted the Roman method of dividing the watches. These watches were four: the first being from sunset to three hours later; the second from this time to midnight; the third from midnight to three hours before sunrise; and the fourth from this time to sunrise. These four watches are all alluded to in the text, the first being called “even,” the second “midnight,” the third “cockcrowing,” and the fourth “morning”; the names indicating the time when the watch terminated.
This mode of dividing the night is also referred to in Matt 14:25; 24:43; Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38.
“830. The Military Night Watch” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Acts 12:4. When he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him.
The usual number of a Roman military night-watch was four, and the watch was changed every three hours. Thus during the twelve hours of night there would be four of these watches or “quaternions.” Of these two were in the prison (see verse 6) and two were sentinels before the door. See verse 10 and the latter part of verse 6.
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