The darkness first called
Genesis 1:5
Caused by God
Psalm 104:20
Belongs to God
Psalm 74:16
The heavenly bodies designed to separate day from
Genesis 1:14
The moon and stars designed to rule and give light by
Genesis 1:16-18; Jeremiah 31:35
Commenced at sunset
Genesis 28:11
Continued until sunrise
Psalm 104:22; Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2
REGULAR SUCCESSION OF Established by covenant
Genesis 8:22; Jeremiah 33:20
Ordained for the glory of God
Psalm 19:2
Originally divided into three watches
Lamentations 2:19; Judges 7:19; Exodus 14:24
Divided into four watches by the Romans
Luke 12:38; Matthew 14:25; Mark 13:35
FREQUENTLY Exceeding dark
Proverbs 7:9
Cold and frosty
Genesis 31:40; Jeremiah 36:30
Accompanied by heavy dew
Numbers 11:9; Judges 6:38,40; Job 29:19; Song of Solomon 5:2
Unsuitable for labour
John 9:4
Unsuitable for travelling
John 11:10
Designed for rest
Psalm 104:23
Wearisome to the afflicted
Job 7:3,4
Favourable to the purposes of the wicked
Genesis 31:39; Job 24:14,15; Obadiah 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:2
Wild beasts go forth in search of prey during
2 Samuel 21:10; Psalm 104:21,22
THE JEWS Forbidden to keep the wages of servants during
Leviticus 19:13
Forbidden to allow malefactors to hang during
Deuteronomy 21:23
In affliction spent, in sorrow and humiliation
Psalm 6:6; 30:5; Joel 1:13
In affliction spent, in prayer
Psalm 22:2
Often kept lamps burning during
Proverbs 31:18
Eastern shepherds watched over their flocks during
Genesis 31:40; Luke 2:8
Eastern fishermen continued their employment during
Luke 5:5; John 21:3
GOD FREQUENTLY Revealed his will in
Genesis 31:24; 46:2; Numbers 22:30; Daniel 7:2
Visited his people in
1 Kings 3:5; Psalm 17:3
Executed his judgments in
Exodus 12:12; 2 Kings 19:35; Job 27:20; Daniel 5:30
ILLUSTRATIVE OF Spiritual darkness
Romans 13:12
Seasons of severe calamities
Isaiah 21:12; Amos 5:8
Seasons of spiritual desertion
Song of Solomon 3:1
Death
John 9:4