Midrash su Ezechiele 4:4

A Min said to R. Abahu: "Your God is a jester [makes sport of the prophets]. He commands Ezekiel (Ez. 4, 4) Lie on thy left side and then (Ib.) lie on thy right side." At the same time a disciple came in and questioned him: "What is the reason of the Sabbatical year?" And R. Abahu answered: "I will now say something which will be an answer to both of you. The Holy One, praised be He! said to Israel: "Till the earth for six years and rest the seventh, in order that you may be aware that the earth is mine.' However, they did not do so, but sinned, and were exiled. It is the custom of the world that if a country has rebelled against its frail king he kills all of them if he is a tyrant, and half of them if he is merciful. But if he is very merciful, he chastises the leaders only; so also the Holy One, praised be He! chastised Ezekiel in order to cleanse the sin of Israel."

(Devarim, Ibid.) "And all of his holy ones are in Your hand": These are the great ones of Israel, who make themselves hostages for Israel, as is written of Ezekiel, viz. (Ezekiel 4:4-6) "Lie upon your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it … and I have given you the years of their iniquity … And when you complete these, then you shall lie upon your right side a second time."