Night: Divided Into Four Watches by the Romans
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Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the New Testament, the division of the night into four watches is a significant aspect of Roman influence on Jewish and early Christian life. The Roman system of timekeeping divided the night into four distinct watches, each lasting approximately three hours. This method of time division is evident in several passages of the New Testament, reflecting the Roman occupation of Judea and the cultural intermingling that occurred during this period.

The Four Watches:

1. First Watch (Evening Watch): This watch spanned from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. It marked the beginning of the night and was a time when people would settle in for the evening. In Mark 13:35, Jesus refers to the first watch when He warns His disciples to be vigilant: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning."

2. Second Watch (Midnight Watch): Lasting from 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM, this watch is often associated with the time of deepest night. In Luke 12:38, Jesus speaks of the second watch, emphasizing the need for readiness: "Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed."

3. Third Watch (Cockcrow Watch): This watch extended from 12:00 AM to 3:00 AM. It is notably mentioned in the context of Peter's denial of Jesus. In Mark 14:72, it is recorded: "And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.' And he broke down and wept."

4. Fourth Watch (Morning Watch): The final watch of the night, from 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM, is often associated with the approach of dawn. In Matthew 14:25, it is during this watch that Jesus walks on water: "During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea."

Cultural and Spiritual Significance:

The Roman division of the night into four watches had practical implications for security and military operations, as it allowed for organized shifts of guards and soldiers. However, its presence in the New Testament also carries spiritual significance. The watches of the night are often used metaphorically to encourage vigilance and readiness among believers. The call to be watchful is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings, urging His followers to remain spiritually alert and prepared for His return.

The use of Roman timekeeping in the Gospels highlights the historical context of the New Testament, where Roman authority and Jewish tradition intersected. This division of the night serves as a reminder of the pervasive influence of Roman culture during the time of Jesus and the early Church, while also providing a framework for understanding the urgency and anticipation that characterized the early Christian community's expectation of the Lord's return.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Luke 12:38
And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 14:25
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Mark 13:35
Watch you therefore: for you know not when the master of the house comes, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Night of Miracles on the Lake of Gennesaret
... of the night.' There was some difference of opinion among the Jews, whether the
night should be divided into three, or (as among the Romans) into four watches. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxx the night of.htm

Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
... Rabbi Banah: "There were four-and-twenty interpreters of dreams in Jerusalem. ...
[78] The Jews divided the night into three watches. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 2 extracts from the.htm

To the Disciples - Two Events and their Moral.
... the time of Christ, they divided the night into four watches (see the discussion
in Ber. 3 a). The latter arrangement was probably introduced from the Romans. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xiii to the disciples.htm

Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and his ...
... He may have been led into this theme by some ... for Oriental weddings take place at
night]; 36 and be ... be from henceforth five in one house divided, three against ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lii concerning hypocrisy worldly anxiety.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... or where the ground rises, and divided into irregular compartments ... gods, but they
are in the night!"As soon ... ringlets, but without ever turning into the wool ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

St. Gregory the Great.
... silence, startled only by the owl's night cry ... the Lombards fell into anarchy, and
were divided into thirty-six ... because she had been misled into withdrawing from ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter v st gregory the.htm

Demonstration vi. --Of Monks.
... Law of his Lord by day and by night, then he ... that no matter to what extent He is
divided amongst many ... that receive the Spirit of Christ, come into the likeness ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration vi of monks.htm

Christian Behavior
... serve their masters, provided they may get into godly families ... but overcome that
with thy virtues (Romans 12:21). ... the earth is disquieted, and for four which it ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
... the flowers in the spring, as the night ushers in ... prosperity the heart is apt to
be divided (Hosea 10 ... God shoot the poisoned arrow of desertion into Job, under ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/the worst things work for.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... In the night a legion of field-mice came forth ... the houses of the rich nobles were
divided among the ... off to Nineveh: Bel-Marduk, introduced into the sanctuary of ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Resources
What does it mean that Jesus will return like a thief in the night? | GotQuestions.org

What did the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night signify? (Exodus 13:21-22) | GotQuestions.org

Why would God's law command a woman who is not a virgin on her wedding night to be stoned to death? | GotQuestions.org

Night: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Night

Night Hawk

Night Hawk: Forbidden As Food

Night used Figuratively

Night: Belongs to God

Night: Caused by God

Night: Commenced at Sunset

Night: Continued Until Sunrise

Night: Death

Night: Designed for Rest

Night: Divided Into Four Watches by the Romans

Night: Divided Into Hours

Night: Divided Into Watches

Night: Eastern Fishermen Continued Their Employment During

Night: Eastern Shepherds Watched Over Their Flocks During

Night: Favourable to the Purposes of the Wicked

Night: Frequently: Accompanied by Heavy Dew

Night: Frequently: Cold and Frosty

Night: Frequently: Exceeding Dark

Night: General Scriptures Concerning

Night: God Frequently: Executed his Judgments In

Night: God Frequently: Revealed his Will In

Night: God Frequently: Visited his People In

Night: Jesus Prays all Night

Night: Meditations In

Night: No Night in Heaven

Night: Originally Divided Into Three Watches

Night: Regular Succession of Established by Covenant

Night: Regular Succession of Ordained for the Glory of God

Night: Seasons of Severe Calamities

Night: Seasons of Spiritual Desertion

Night: Spiritual Darkness

Night: The Darkness First Called

Night: The Heavenly Bodies Designed to Separate Day From

Night: The Jews in Affliction Spent, in Prayer

Night: The Jews in Affliction Spent, in Sorrow and Humiliation

Night: The Jews: Forbidden to Allow Malefactors to Hang During

Night: The Jews: Forbidden to Keep the Wages of Servants During

Night: The Jews: Often Kept Lamps Burning During

Night: The Moon and Stars Designed to Rule and Give Light By

Night: Unsuitable for Labour

Night: Unsuitable for Travelling

Night: Wearisome to the Afflicted

Night: Wild Beasts Go Forth in Search of Prey During

Night: Worship In

Related Terms

Night-lodge (1 Occurrence)

Night-bird (1 Occurrence)

Night-time (1 Occurrence)

Night-monster

To-night (15 Occurrences)

Night (3322 Occurrences)

Night-watches (4 Occurrences)

Night-hawk (2 Occurrences)

Yesterday-night (1 Occurrence)

Night-watch

Night-visions (2 Occurrences)

Night-vision (2 Occurrences)

Watch-night (1 Occurrence)

Night-spirit (1 Occurrence)

Cock (12 Occurrences)

Yesternight (4 Occurrences)

Spend (54 Occurrences)

Vigil (2 Occurrences)

Bittern (4 Occurrences)

Surrounded (51 Occurrences)

Compassed (52 Occurrences)

Cock's (7 Occurrences)

Stopping (22 Occurrences)

Black (52 Occurrences)

Concubine (21 Occurrences)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Sleeping (69 Occurrences)

Square (94 Occurrences)

Shine (62 Occurrences)

Quaternion

Blackness (13 Occurrences)

Ceasing (15 Occurrences)

Cock-crowing (3 Occurrences)

Armed (147 Occurrences)

Belshazzar (8 Occurrences)

Servant's (29 Occurrences)

Stretcheth (33 Occurrences)

Supplications (32 Occurrences)

Satyr

Asleep (50 Occurrences)

Seasons (43 Occurrences)

Yesterday (13 Occurrences)

Stolen (28 Occurrences)

Visions (43 Occurrences)

Cold (25 Occurrences)

Candle (16 Occurrences)

Borne (172 Occurrences)

Sleep (136 Occurrences)

Smite (230 Occurrences)

Steal (29 Occurrences)

Shining (115 Occurrences)

Starting (34 Occurrences)

Abode (112 Occurrences)

Abide (162 Occurrences)

Stumbled (47 Occurrences)

Soldiers (83 Occurrences)

Stayed (169 Occurrences)

Couch (55 Occurrences)

Apple (8 Occurrences)

Silence (80 Occurrences)

Astronomy

Vision (106 Occurrences)

Yeast (48 Occurrences)

Silas (22 Occurrences)

Younger (39 Occurrences)

Perceived (57 Occurrences)

Viewed (9 Occurrences)

Viewing (6 Occurrences)

Valley-gate (3 Occurrences)

Valour (66 Occurrences)

Keepers (78 Occurrences)

Preparations (16 Occurrences)

Betwixt (16 Occurrences)

Baker (11 Occurrences)

Blackest (5 Occurrences)

Beseeching (11 Occurrences)

Cockcrowing (1 Occurrence)

Chios (1 Occurrence)

Night: Designed for Rest
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