Even

The word Even in the KJV is often a translation of the Hebrew word Ereb (ערב), Strong's Number H6153. The word is best defined as meaning "the end of the day", or afternoon, with the time period ending at sunset. It is often used to describe the time at which there are still shadows, and objects far away can still be seen.

Usage

Gen 1:5

In the first chapter of Genesis, YHVH uses the word Ereb to describe "evening":

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening (ereb) and the morning were the first day. (Gen 1:5)

In this example, ereb could describe either the end of the daytime, or the beginning of the nighttime.

Gen 24:11

This passage describes the time at which Abraham' servant arrived at the well where he met Rebekah:

And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening (ereb), the time that women go out to draw water.

Here ereb is defined as "the time that women go out to draw water". This would necessitate that there is enough light for the women to walk to and from their homes in safety. This implies that ereb begins before sunset.

Gen 24:63-64

And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide (the "face of ereb"): and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

In order for Issac and Rebekah to see each other at a distance, there must have been enough light at this time to do so.

Deu 23:11

But it shall be, when evening(ereb) cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.

This passage clearly defines ereb as beginning before sunset, since the person is to wash themselves first and then is allowed to come back into camp after sunset.

Jos 8:29, 10:26

And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide("face of ereb"): and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.

In Gen 24:63 (above), we saw that "eventide" was light enough for Issac and Rebekah to see each other. However this passage seems to indicate that "eventide" is the same time as sunset. This apparent contradiction can be reconciled when we understand that inclusive reckoning is used for times and calendar days. This means that "until" includes the time of "eventide", and so sunset could occur during or immediately after it. Therefore it is still acceptable to define ereb as a time preceeding and perhaps including sunset.

2Ch 18:34

And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

In this passage there appears to be two separate events. First, the king of Israel stood in his chariot in battle against the Syrians until "even", then at sunset he died. If "Even" is defined as the afternoon, then it's possible that he was only able to stand up until the afternoon, and then passed away at sunset.

Pro 7:9

In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

The word translated as "twilight" here in the KJV is nesheph (נֶשֶׁף), STrong's Number H5399. It means "breeze", but refers to the evening breeze at the time between sunset and darkness. The phrase then translated as "evening" is ereb yom, or "evening of the day". So this passage of poetry appears to be describing a progression of darkness as the young man walks from the street to the woman's house: from twilight, to the end of the day, to "black and dark". It does necessarily imply that the three things are equivalent.

Jer 6:4

Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

In order for there to be shadows present during the evening (ereb), the sun would not have set yet.

Zec 14:7

But it shall be one day which shall be known to YHVH, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.

This chapter of Zechariah is a prophecy of when YHVH will be king over all the earth. It describes that on this day, instead of the sun setting as normal during the evening, it will still be daylight.

References

"Berean Bible Study Group", Passover Study 1, Version 2.3