Commentary for Berakhot 6:15
ורבי נתן סבר לה כרבי יהושע דתנן רבי יהושע אומר עד שלש שעות שכן דרך מלכים לעמוד בשלש שעות שית דליליא ותרתי דיממא הוו להו שתי משמרות
How does R. Nathan answer this argument? He agrees with the opinion of R. Joshua ; for there is a Mishnaic teaching : R. Joshua says : Until the third hour [in the day may the morning Shema' be read], for so is the custom of kings to rise at the third hour. Six hours of the night and two of the day make two watches.
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
See below fol. 9 b, p. 55.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
If the day of royal personages commences with the beginning of the third hour (i.e. 8 a.m.), by rising at midnight David forestalled them by eight hours. Therefore a "watch" consists of four hours and there are three in the night.
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