מדרש אויף בראשית 23:5

6) R Yossi Haglili says: After Scripture equates the deed of the land of Egypt with that of the land of Canaan, and that of the land of Canaan with that of the land of Egypt, why did the Canaanites merit remaining in their land for forty-seven years, as it is written (Bamidbar 13:22) "And Chevron (in Canaan) was built seven years before Tzoan (in) Egypt" (and add forty years for their sojourn in the desert)? It was because they honored our father Abraham, saying (Bereshith 23:5) "Hear us, my lord, a prince of G d are you in our midst" — wherefore they merited remaining on their land forty-seven years.

Another interpretation (of Prov. 3:4): SO YOU SHALL FIND GRACE. This is Abraham, who was pleasing to mortals and to angels. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 23:6): HEAR ME, MY LORD < ABRAHAM >, YOU ARE A PRINCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST. Ergo, < he was pleasing > to mortals. Where is it shown < that he was pleasing > to the Holy One and to angels? Where it is stated (in Gen. 18:17): THEN THE LORD SAID: SHALL I HIDE FROM ABRAHAM < WHAT I AM DOING > ?

And it is written (Genesis 10:15) "And Canaan begot Tziddon, his first-born, and Cheth," and (Ibid. 23:5-6) "… and the sons of Cheth answered Abraham: Hear us my lord, etc." — whereupon the Holy One Blessed be He said: You honored My loved one; I, likewise, will call the land by your name.