About midnight
At a certain hour in the evening the shouting and stir of the people in and about the khan ceased ; at the same time , every Israelite , if not already upon his feet , arose , solemnized his face , looked towards Jerusalem , crossed his hands upon his breast , and prayed ; for it was the sacred ninth hour , when sacrifices were offered in the temple on Moriah , and God was supposed to be there . When the hands of the worshippers fell down , the commotion broke forth again ; everybody hastened to bread , or to make his pallet . A little later , the lights were put out , and there was silence , and then sleep . * * * * * * About midnight some one on the roof cried out , `` What light is that in the sky ? Awake , brethren , awake and see ! '' The people , half asleep , sat up and looked ; then they became wide-awake , though wonder-struck . And the stir spread to the court below , and into the lewens ; soon the entire tenantry of the house and court and enclosure were out gazing at the sky .