Time of the Third Watch in Ancient Israel
The concept of the "third watch" in ancient Israel is rooted in the Jewish division of the night into three watches. According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, the night was divided into three watches: the first watch lasted from sunset to 10 P.M., the middle watch from 10 P.M. to 2 A.M., and the morning watch from 2 A.M. to sunrise [1]. Easton's Bible Dictionary corroborates this division, noting that the Jews originally divided the night into three watches: from sunset to midnight, from midnight to cock-crowing, and from cock-crowing to sunrise [2].
The biblical basis for this division can be seen in various passages. Lamentations 2:19 refers to "the beginning of the watches," Judges 7:19 mentions "the middle watch," and Exodus 14:24 and 1 Samuel 11:11 reference "the morning watch" [1, 2, 6]. The division into three watches is distinct from the later Roman division into four watches, which was adopted by the Jews during the Roman period [2].
The timing of these watches is significant. The first watch, or "beginning of the watches," lasted from sunset to 10 P.M. The middle watch, from 10 P.M. to 2 A.M., is mentioned in Judges 7:19, where Gideon and his men launch a surprise attack on the Midianite camp. The morning watch, from 2 A.M. to sunrise, is referenced in Exodus 14:24, where the Lord looks upon the Egyptian host through the pillar of fire and cloud [1, 6].
The Jewish division of the day into hours is also relevant to understanding the concept of the third watch. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, the Jews initially divided the day into "morning, evening, and noon-day" (Psalm 55:17). Later, during the Babylonian captivity, they adopted the Babylonian division of the day into twelve hours [3].
In the New Testament, the division of the night into watches is still referenced. Mark 13:35 mentions four watches: evening, midnight, cock-crowing, and morning, reflecting the Roman division of the night. However, the concept of the third watch remains tied to the Jewish division [2].
The third watch, or morning watch, held particular significance in Jewish practice. According to the Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi Yehoshua says that one is permitted to recite the morning Shema until the third hour of the day, as it is the custom of kings to rise during the third hour [5]. This highlights the importance of the third hour in Jewish daily life.
In Christian interpretation, the concept of watches is often seen in the context of prayer and vigilance. Adam Clarke notes that the third hour, or 9 A.M., was a significant time for prayer among the Jews, and Peter's speech on the day of Pentecost references this custom [8].
The understanding of the third watch is also influenced by the cultural and historical context. John Gill notes that the Romans divided the night into four watches, while the Hebrews divided it into three or four watches [7]. This variation in division reflects the complex cultural exchange and influence in the ancient Near East.
The significance of the third watch is not limited to its timing but also its symbolic and theological implications. In Lamentations 2:19, the prophet urges the people to cry out to the Lord "in the beginning of the watches," emphasizing the importance of prayer and supplication during the night [6].
The concept of watches in ancient Israel highlights the complex and nuanced understanding of time in Jewish culture. The division of the night into watches reflects a practical need for organization and vigilance, as well as a deeper theological significance [4].
The historical development of the concept of watches can be seen in the shift from a three-watch to a four-watch system. This change reflects the influence of Roman culture on Jewish practice during the Roman period [2].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: 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, t”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Day — The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps. 55:17). "The heat of the day" (1 Sam. 11:11; Neh. 7:3) was at our nine o'clock, and "the cool of the day" just before sunset (Gen. 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (Lam. 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Judg. 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex. 14:24). In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mark 13:35)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hour — First found in Dan. 3:6; 4:19, 33;5:5. It is the rendering of the Chaldee shaah, meaning a "moment," a "look." It is used in the New Testament frequently to denote some determinate season (Matt. 8:13; Luke 12:39). With the ancient Hebrews the divisions of the day were "morning, evening, and noon-day" (Ps. 55:17, etc.). The Greeks, following the Babylonians, divided the day into twelve hours. The Jews, during the Captivity, learned also from the Babylonians this method of dividing time. When Judea became subject to the Romans, the Jews adopted the Roman mode of”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Watches — The periods into which the time between sunset and sunrise was divided. They are so called because watchmen relieved each other at each of these periods. There are frequent references in Scripture to the duties of watchmen who were appointed to give notice of the approach of an enemy (2 Sam. 18:24-27; 2 Kings 9:17-20; Isa. 21:5-9). They were sometimes placed for this purpose on watch-towers (2 Kings 17:9; 18:8). Ministers or teachers are also spoken of under this title (Jer. 6:17; Ezek. 33:2-9; Heb. 13:17). The watches of the night were originally three in ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 3b.15: And how does Rabbi Natan reconcile these two verses? He holds in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua, for we learned in a mishna that Rabbi Yehoshua says: One is permitted to recite the morning Shema during the time when people rise, until the third hour of the day, as it is the custom of kings to rise during the third hour. Since it is customary for kings to rise during the third hour of the day, if David rose at midnight, he would be awake for six hours of the night and two hours of the day, which amounts to two watches. Therefore King David could”
- Lamentations (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Lamentations 2:19: cry . . . in . . . night-- (Psa 119:147). beginning of . . . watches--that is, the first of the three equal divisions (four hours each) into which the ancient Jews divided the night; namely, from sunset to ten o'clock. The second was called "the middle watch" (Jdg 7:19), from ten till two o'clock. The third, "the morning watch," from two to sunrise (Exo 14:24; Sa1 11:11). Afterwards, under the Romans, they had four watches (Mat 14:25; Luk 12:38). for . . . thy . . . children--that God, if He will not spare thee, may at least preserve "thy you”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 14:24: And it came to pass, that in the morning watch,.... The Romans divided the night into four watches, so the Hebrews; though some say into three only. The first began at six o'clock, and lasted till nine, the second was from thence to twelve, the third from thence to three in the morning, and the last from three to six, which is here called the morning watch; so that this was some time between three and six o'clock in the morning: the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians, through the pillar of fire and of the cloud; the Angel of the Lord, and who was Jehovah hi”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 2:15: But the third hour of the day - That is, about nine o'clock in the morning, previously to which the Jews scarcely ever ate or drank, for that hour was the hour of prayer. This custom appears to have been so common that even the most intemperate among the Jews were not known to transgress it; Peter therefore spoke with confidence when he said, these are not drunken - seeing it is but the third hour of the day, previously to which even the intemperate did not use wine.”