The Jewish time period for a day was from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23.32). Originally it was divided into three parts (Psa. 55.17). Before the Jews were carried into captivity, they divided the night into three parts:
- + from sunset to midnight (Lam. 2.19)
- + from midnight till the cock-crowing (Judges 7.19)
- + from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex. 14.24).
In the Second Testament, the Romans divided the night into four equal time periods from 6 PM till 6 AM (Mark 13.35).
