Reference: WATCHMEN
American
Are of as early a date as cities, robbers, and wars, Ex 14:24; Jg 7:19. Jerusalem and other cities had regular guards night and day, Song 3:1-3; 5:7, to whose hourly cries Isaiah refers in illustration of the vigilance required by God in his ministers, Isa 21:8,11-12; 62:6. At this day the watchmen of Jerusalem "keep not silence," nor do they "hold their peace day nor night;" especially at night and when danger is apprehended, they are required to call to each other every few minutes, and the cry passes from one to another entirely around the city walls. Those of Sidon also do the same. Watchmen always had a station at the gate of a city and in the adjacent tower, 2Sa 18:24-27; 2Ki 9:27; also on hill-tops overlooking a large circuit of terraced vineyards, whence they could "see eye to eye," and "lift up the voice" of warning or of cheer, Isa 52:7-8; and their responsible office, requiring so much vigilance and fidelity, illustrates that of prophets and ministers, Jer 6:17; Eze 33:1-9; Heb 13:17.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And it came to pass that in the morning watch the LORD looked at the camp of the Egyptians in the pillar of fire and of cloud and troubled the camp of the Egyptians
So Gideon and the hundred men that were with him came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch when only the guards were awake, and they blew the shofarot and broke the pitchers that were in their hands.
And David sat between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold a man running alone. And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, If he is alone, he brings good news. And while he kept on drawing near, read more. the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called unto the porter and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. And the watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man and comes with good tidings.
By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but I did not find him. I will rise now and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but I did not find him. read more. The watchmen that go about the city found me, to whom I said, Have ye seen him whom my soul loves?
The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my outer cloak from me.
and he cried, A lion upon the watchman. My lord, I stand continually all the day and all night long upon my watchtower.
The burden of Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of this night? Watchman, what of this night? The watchman said, The morning comes and then the night; if ye will enquire, enquire ye; return, and come.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace, that brings good tidings of good, that publishes saving health, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigns! The voice of thy watchmen! They shall lift up the voice; together they shall rejoice: for they shall see eye to eye, how the LORD shall return to bring again Zion.
I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night; ye that make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent
Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the shofar. But they said, We will not hearken.
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the sons of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring a sword upon the land and the people of the land take a man from within their borders and set him up as a watchman; read more. and he should see the sword coming upon the land, if he should blow the shofar, and warn the people, then whoever hears the sound of the shofar and does not take warning; and the coming of the sword should take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the shofar and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman should see the sword coming and not blow the shofar and the people not be warned, if the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away because of his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die for his sin; but I will require his blood at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, if he does not turn from his way, he shall die for his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Listen to your pastors, and do not resist them, for they watch for your souls as those that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you.