Reference: Watches of the Night
Fausets
The Jews reckoned three military watches: the "first" or beginning of the watches (La 2:19), from sunset to ten o'clock; the second or "middle watch" was from ten until two o'clock (Jg 7:19); the third, "the morning watch," from two to sunrise (Ex 14:24; 1Sa 11:11). Afterward under the Romans they had four watches (Mt 14:25): Lu 12:38, "even, midnight, cockcrowing, and morning" (Mr 13:35); ending respectively at 9 p.m., midnight, 3 a.m., and 6 a.m. (compare Ac 12:4.) Watchmen patrolled the streets (Song 3:3; 5:7; Ps 127:1).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic,
So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands.
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORDwatches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"
The watchmen found me as they went about in the city; they beat me, they bruised me, they took away my veil, those watchmen of the walls.
"Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street."
And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
Therefore stay awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning--
If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.