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Nathan of Gaza
1644 CE – 1680 CE · Ottoman Gazasabbatean-frankist
Description
Nathan Benjamin ben Elisha Hayyim haLevi Ashkenazi, more famously known as Nathan of Gaza, or Ghazzati, was a theologian and author born in Jerusalem. After his marriage in 1663 he moved to Gaza, where he became famous as a prophet for the Jewish messiah claimant Sabbatai Zevi.
Facts
| Born | 1643 (1643), Jerusalem, Ottoman Syria, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 1680 (aged 36–37), Sofia, Ottoman Empire |
| Religion | Sabbateanism |
Life & work in brief
Summarised by section — one row per topic, for fast reading.
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Biography | Nathan of Gaza was born in Jerusalem around 1643–1644; he died on Friday, January 11, 1680, in Sofia. |
| Travels through Europe | Again excommunicated at Adrianople, he went with a few followers to Thessaloniki. |
| Works | Nathan of Gaza persuaded the Jewish community through his writings about Sabbatai Zevi and Sabbateanism. |
| Death | There is some consensus among sources that on Friday, January 11, 1680, in Üsküp, Ottoman Empire (now Skopje, North Macedonia), Nathan of Gaza died. |
Prophecies
Key prophetic utterances and visions attributed to Nathan of Gaza, with sources.
| Prophecy / vision | Source |
|---|---|
| Vision of Sabbatai Tsevi seated on a royal throne in Gaza; confirmed as Messiah | Nathan's testimony, 1665 |
| The Messiah must descend into the demonic shells (kelippot) to liberate them | Perush ha-Torah |
| The faith of the Messiah — belief beyond the apostasy | Ma'amar |