The Sabbatean Prophets

From Mystical Vision to Prophetic Eruption 107
self to her, covered in admirable Splendor, holding in his hand a flaming
sword, and that he had told her that the true Messiah had come and that
very soon he would appear on the shores of the Jordan . . . Among other
things, people kept saying that it was an absolute truth that every day several
children would fall into an ecstasy and in that state would say extraordinary
things about him and affirm that he was the true Messiah, sent by
God. 50
A report appearing in a Dutch broadsheet for businessmen gives a general
picture of the prophetic outbreak. While the details of the possessions themselves
resemble other reports, certain details to do with the Jews’ expectations
of the messianic future add a new dimension.
At that time [winter 1665–66] there appeared—some say by the workings
of the devil—more than two hundred prophets and prophetesses upon
whom there fell a mighty trembling so that they swooned. In this state they
exclaimed that Shabbatai Zvi was the messiah and king of Israel who would
lead his people safely to the Holy Land, and that ships of Tarshish, that is,
with Dutch crews, would come to transport them. Thereafter their spirits
returned unto them, but they remembered nothing of what they had spoken,
much to the amazement of our Christians who see and hear this every
day. Even little children of four years and less recited psalms in Hebrew. 51
The report by Paul Rycaut, the English consul in Izmir, who was absent at
the time of these events but had access to many eyewitnesses, gives the standard
picture of the possessions, but adds several details and an analysis of
causes.
But howsoever it fell out, Pennia [Samuel Peña] 52 in short time becomes a
convert, and preaches up Sabatai for the Son of God, and deliverer of the
Jews: and not only he, but his whole family; his daughters prophesie, and
fall into strange extasies; and not only his own house, but four hundred
men and women prophesie of the growing kingdom of Sabatai, and young
infants who could yet scarce stammer out a syllable to their mothers, repeat
and pronounce plainly the name of Sabatai the Messiah, and Son of God.
For thus far had God permitted the Devil to delude this people, that their
very children were for a time possessed, and voices heard to sound from
their stomacks, and intrails: those of riper years fell first into a trance,
foamed at the mouth, and recounted the future prosperity, and deliverance
of the Israelites, their visions of the Lyon of Judah, and the triumphs of