Thank you for the interpretative question on Psalm 59:14, “Psalm 59:14 “They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city”. In scripture, I’ve noticed “evening” or even “morning” mentioned many times, but never of a time exactness. (So what time in the evening did they return)?” (NIV).
For the Jewish people, sunset was considered the end of the day. Thus evil individuals tend to look for easy prey when it becomes dark. It was easier getting away in the dark than in the daylight.
The exact time when thieves or robbers would act would be upon what they thought was the most opportune time. Usually this would happen when the family goes to sleep whereby a thief may attempt to steal animals or even enter one’s home.
When one reads the crucifixion scene of when the soldiers came to break the legs of the criminal, it was becoming closer to sunset when no hung criminal can be left hanging in the dark. They had to be taken down by Jewish Law/custom. See John 19:28–42. Likewise sunrise begins the new day.
SUMMARY: Evening is referred to as the time when the sunsets and day time is referred to the rising of the sun.