Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-01-31
SABBATAI SEvpS CAREER.



of Asia Minor.
Sabbatai S wi was n Smyrniotc jew.
born in 1925. and the son of broker
in that city; he was clever youth and
so well versod in the Cibala and other
Jewish books that at the age of eight
cen he was made n rabbi. Doubtless
some accounts of the fifth monarchy
men, and the then much-aceredited re-
IN4it. that the Messiah was TO reap
TO be that MesgRaehed Smyrna and
object he secretly caus ,d rcp6ftSplGeh
promulgated to the effect that proph-
ct would shortly appear who would
rob the Sultan of his crown and restore
again the kingdom of Israel. When
he thought that the right time had
come, to tho dismay of the Smyrnioto
rabbis he pronounced the name
Jehovah" aloud in open conclavc,
| for which olfense he was sum-
moncd before tribunal and con-
demned to die, Lut doubtless he had
been prepared for this and had ar
rangements made for his escape from
Smyrna. and, with ono object in view,
he went as pilgrim to Egypt and
Jerusalem, where he chose MS his Elijah
one Nathan Benjamin. man of as
cctic life, who professcd to see visions.
Before returning TO Smyrna he sent
his attendant Nathan before him to
prepare the way. and in the capacity
of second 81. John the Baptist TO an
nounce that he was coming to deliver
men from the oppression of the Turks
and to lead back the Jews to Palestine.
Nathan did his work well, writing n
circular letter addressed 10 the "Rem-
nant of the Israelitcs, peace without
end" the result being that intense
and mad exciloment seized upon the
Jews of that pace. They nearly
killed themselves with ponances; they
administered to one another thirty
nine lashcs and tortures of all kinds;
and an influential jew. Pennia by
name. whose daughter prophesied and
wrought miracles, assisted Nathan in
his work of preparation.
In due time Sabbath Sevi landed at
Smyrna, styling himself the king of
kings" and so carried away were the
people with his adroit eloquence that
throne was SGT up for him in tho
synagogue, and from Smyrna proph-
cts were sent all over the Turkish
dominions 20 all the jewish colonies
10 preach that "thc true Messiah of
the race of David was come, and that
to him the crown and the kingdom
was given" At this juncturc Sovi
vontured to elect from among his
trusted followers twelve princes, who
were to act rs generals TO the twelve
tribes on their journey back TO their
country, and, MS we know from I'm
glish records, the report reached even
rs far rs to our shores, and that there
was somc talk of sending English
ships TO assist in the transport, and
even the skcptic Spinoza, from all he
heard, was at one time inclined
to waver in his disbelief. The
scenes Of frcnzied excitement in
Smyrna were intense; business was
entirely suspended and gave place to
eager fanatical worship of Sevi;
presents poured in to him from all
parts. until at length the Sultan was
reused to action and summoned him
to Adrianoplc. The story of Sevi's
interview with the Sultan Is we'll
known. and how "thc holy, noble and
divine Messiah was ordered by that
potentato to choose between three
things-either TO work n miracle and
thereby prove his identity, or to have
three poisoned arrows shot at him by
the Sultan himself. or TO become
Mohammodan. II am follower of
Mohammedan," replied Sevi to this
test and, tuning to his followers,
who were dismaycd beyond measure
at the collapse of their hero, he added,
"and he was numbered among the
transgressors. "--Lonqman's Magazine,