Commentary for Berakhot 6:22
רבי זירא אמר עד חצות לילה היה מתנמנם כסוס מכאן ואילך היה מתגבר כארי רב אשי אמר עד חצות לילה היה עוסק בדברי תורה מכאן ואילך בשירות ותשבחות.
R. Zera said : Until midnight David used to slumber like a horse, but from thence he grew strong like a lion. Rab Ashe said : Until midnight he was occupied with words of Torah, but from thence with psalms and praises.
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The horse was known to be a light sleeper. According to Sukkah 26 b its sleep consisted of only 60 respirations.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Cf. Abot 5:23: "Judah b. Tema said : Be strong as a leopard, light as an eagle, fleet as a hart, and strong as a lion, to do the will of thy Father Who is in heaven" (Singer, p. 203).
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Tosafot on Berakhot
[Never did midnight pass while I was asleep: Seemingly, He (King David) was expressing that it never happened that I was asleep at chatzot, and sometimes I would be up earlier from the neshef (evening)]
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