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 it happened that Jehovah looked to the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the army of the Egyptians.
So Gideon and the hundred men with him came to the edge of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch. And they had but newly set the watch. And they blew the ram's horns and broke the pitchers that were in their hands.
A Song of degrees for Solomon. Unless Jehovah builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless Jehovah keeps the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
The watchmen going about the city found me. I said, Have you seen Him whom my soul loves?
The watchmen who went about the city found me and struck me; they wounded me. The keepers of the wall lifted my veil from me.
Arise, cry out in the night. At the beginning of the watches, pour out your heart like water before the face of Jehovah. Lift up your hands toward Him for the life of your children who are faint for hunger in the head of every street.
Then you watch, for you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, at evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or early;
And if he comes in the second watch, or comes in the third watch, and find it so, blessed are those servants.
And capturing him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four sets of four soldiers to keep him; intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.