Midrasch zu Jechezkiel 11:1

(Lam. 1, 17) The Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob, that they who are round him should be his adversaries. Said R. Juda: "An instance of this may be taken from Humania and Pum-nahara." (Ez. 11, 13) And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benayah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a, loud voice, and said, 'Ah, Lord, eternal God!' Rab and Samuel differ in the meaning of this passage. One explains that it was a bad sign; while the other one said that it was a good sign. The one that takes it for a good sign likens it to the incident that happened to the king of Meshan, the son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar, who sent word to the latter to the effect: "From all the captives which thou hast, thou hast not sent any to serve us!" Nebuchadnezzar was about to send Pelatiah b. Benayahu, when the latter said to him: "We Israelites who are respectful should better wait upon you, while your other servants should go and serve there." The prophet then pleaded [with God in the words above mentioned]: "Such a man who has done a favor to Israel through his advice should die in the midst of his years." The one who explains that it was a bad sign applies from the following passage (Ib., ib. 1) And He brought me unto the east gate of the house of the Lord, etc.