The Sabbatean Prophets

106 The Sabbatean Prophets
daughter of Rabbi Abraham Tammon [Simhon], 46 and others to the number
of twenty prophets and prophetesses. 47
An interesting testimony to the popular prophecies, accompanied by an
analysis of their place in the development of the movement, comes from
Coenen, who witnessed the events in Izmir.
Matters were indeed going well for the lord [Shabbatai] here. He even let
his imagination run to the possibility that he would soon enter his imagined
rulership [of the Ottoman Empire]. His power daily grew over his enemies.
Only this was lacking: the eyes of the world were not yet sufficiently
opened to understand who and what he was. So, to inform everyone of his
qualities, he needed the help of prophecies.
And indeed, to this end, a great number of prophets were revealed at that
time, women and men, youths and young ladies, even children. These
claimed and even demonstrated publicly that the spirit of prophecy rested
on them. It is incredible how far the Jews believed in this, though nothing
came out of these imagined prophecies except wild rantings and meaningless
talk. In the end all anyone heard was calls of “Long live the Hakham
Shabbatai Zvi, our messiah; it is already accepted in heaven and on earth;
behold, he has also merited to receive the crown.” In the same manner as
the miracles mentioned above [the fiery pillar], they also schemed to make
these prophecies conform to the Holy Scripture. When the Jews saw the
great number of people of all genders and walks of life who entered into the
prophetic vocation, they said wholeheartedly—and I heard this with my
own ears more than once—that the time had come for the fulfillment of
Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28–29 [Joel 3:1–2]). There God says through the
mouth of the prophet, “And it shall be afterward I shall pour my spirit into
all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy.” 48
Another report from a Christian contemporary speaks of a prophecy in Istanbul
that is not known from other sources. The early date is noteworthy—
this event purportedly occurred before Shabbatai left the Land of Israel in
autumn of 1665. The details supplied suggest that the author may have been
poorly informed about the movement, though his report of the prophecy
seems complete. The visionary is again a woman.
While he [Shabbatai] was staying in that City [Jerusalem] it so happened
that a Spinster from Galata, 49 prompted by the Demon or encouraged by
the same Sabatai Levi [!], told her Parents that an Angel had revealed him-