Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Watches of Night 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”, Lam 2:19, the … Continue reading “Watches of Night”

Watches, Night There were with the Israelites three night watches: 1. From sunset (about 6 P.M.) to 10 P.M. Lam 2:19. 2. The middle watch, from 10 P.M. to 2 A.M. Jdg 7:19. 3. From 2 A.M. till sunrise. 1Sa 11:11. Under the Romans there were four night watches, agreeing with the changes of the … Continue reading “Watches, Night”

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 … Continue reading “WATCHES”

WATCHERS See ACOEMETAE. Fuente: Theological Dictionary Watchers a class of monks who are said to have performed divine service without intermission, by dividing themselves into three classes, and taking their turns at the service at stated hours. SEE ACOEMETAE. The term is applied to the keepers of the Easter sepulchre. Usually there were two or … Continue reading “Watchers”

WATCHER Dan 4:13,17,23, a figurative designation of heavenly beings, apparently angels, as seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream. Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary Watcher (, wakeing), a class of angelic beings mentioned in the description of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan 4:13-17). The Chaldeans appear to have believed that God had delegated the moral government of … Continue reading “Watcher”

Watch-tower (, Isa 21:5; , 2Ch 20:24; Isa 21:8), a structure over or by the side of city gates in the East, in which a watchman was stationed to observe what was going on at a distance, especially in times of danger (2Sa 18:25). We find that he went up by a staircase from the … Continue reading “Watch-Tower”

Watch Of The Night (; ). The Jews, like the Greeks and Romans, divided the might; 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. These would last respectively from sunset to 10 P.M.; from 10 … Continue reading “Watch Of The Night”

Watch-night is a Wesleyan custom. Near the beginning of Methodism the members of that body in Bristol began to meet at night, that they might worship without interruption. Mr. Wesley, knowing that such meetings would-soon be misinterpreted, made them public, and for a time held them once a month. Afterwards, however, they were observed only … Continue reading “Watch-night”

Watch (Noun and Verb), Watchers, Watchful, Watchings is used (a) with the meaning “a watch,” actively, “a guarding,” Luk 2:8, lit., “(keeping, phulasso) watches;” (b) of “the time during which guard was kept by night, a watch of the night,” Mat 14:25; Mat 24:43; Mar 6:48; Luk 12:38. See CAGE, HOLD, IMPRISONMENT, PRISON. Note: Among … Continue reading “Watch (Noun and Verb), Watchers, Watchful, Watchings”

WATCH A division of the night. See HOURS. Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary Watch in Heb. , denoting to cut into,” thence “to impress on the mind,” “to observe,” “to watch,” in the sense of keeping or guarding; or , the original meaning of which is “to look out,” thence “to watch;” as in … Continue reading “Watch”