Daf 127b (דַּף קכ״ז ע״ב)

And we learn proper conduct here from what Avraham did (וְיַלְפִינָן אוֹרַח אַרְעָא הָכָא בְּמָּה דְעֲבַד אַבְרָהָם), for although his desire and will were in that cave (דְּהָא בְּגִין דְּתִאוּבְתֵּיהּ וּרְעוּתֵיהּ הֲוָה בְּהַהִיא מְעַרְתָּא), even though he was there, he did not wish to ask immediately for that desire he had for the cave (אַף עַל גַּב דְּהֲוָה תַּמָּן, לָא בָּעָא לְמִשְׁאַל לֵיהּ מִיָּד הַהוּא רְעוּתָא דְּהֲוָה לֵיהּ בִּמְעַרְתָּא), but rather first asked for something he did not need, from the others and not from Efron (וְשָׁאִיל בְּקַדְמִיתָא מַה דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לְאִינוּן אָחֳרָנִין וְלָא לְעֶפְרוֹן).

Once they spoke before Efron, “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of Elohim in our midst…” (כֵּיוָן דְּאָמְרוּ לֵיהּ קַמֵּי עֶפְרוֹן: שְׁמָעֵנוּ אֲדֹנִי נְשִׂיא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה בְּתוֹכֵנוּ וְגו׳), what is written? “And Efron was sitting among the children of Chet.” It is written “sat” (יָשַׁב כְּתִיב), meaning: at the moment Avraham said these words, he was there (מִשֵּׁירוּתָא דְּמִלִּין דְּאָמַר אַבְרָהָם תַּמָּן הֲוָה). Then he said, “Hear me and intercede for me with Efron the son of Tzochar, that he give me the cave of Machpelah, which is his…” (כְּדֵין אָמַר: שְׁמָעוּנִי וּפִגְעוּ לִי בְּעֶפְרוֹן בֶּן צֹחַר וְיִתֶּן לִי אֶת מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וְגו׳). And if you would say: because of my honor I do more than you, and I do not find favor in your eyes (וְאִי תֵימָא בְּגִין יְקָרָא דִּילִי יַתִּיר מִנַּיְיכוּ אֲנָא עָבִיד דְּלָא רָעֵינָא בְּכוּ), [then know] “in your midst” - meaning: to be buried among you because I find favor in you, and so that I not be separated from you (בְּתוֹכְכֶם, בְּגִין לְאִתְקְבָרָא בֵּינַיְיכוּ דְּרָעֵינָא בְּכוּ בְּגִין דְּלָא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנַּיְיכוּ).

Rabbi El'azar said: At the time Avraham entered the cave-how did he enter? (רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר: בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּעָאל אַבְרָהָם בִּמְעַרְתָּא הֵיךְ עָאל). Because he was running after that calf, as it is written: “And Avraham ran to the cattle…” (בְּגִין דְּהֲוָה רָהִיט אֲבַתְרֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא עֶגְלָא דִּכְתִיב: וְאֶל הַבָּקָר רָץ אַבְרָהָם וְגו׳). And that calf fled until that cave, and he entered after it and saw what he saw (וְהַהוּא בֶּן בָּקָר עָרַק עַד הַהוּא מְעַרְתָּא וְעָאל אֲבַתְרִיהּ וְחָמָא מַה דְּחָמָא). Furthermore, because he would pray every single day (תוּ בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ צַלֵּי כָּל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא), and he would go out until that field from which supernal fragrances would ascend (וְהֲוָה נָפִיק עַד הַהוּא חֲקַל דְּהֲוָה סָלִיק רֵיחִין עִלָּאִין), and he saw a light emerging from within the cave and would pray there (וְחָמָא נְהוֹרָא דְּנָפִיק מִגּוֹ מְעַרְתָּא וְצַלֵּי תַּמָּן), and there Kudsha Berikh Hu would speak with him (וְתַמָּן מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), and because of this he desired it, for his longing was continually for that place (וּבְגִין כָּךְ בָּעָא לֵיהּ, דְּתִאוּבְתֵּיהּ הֲוָה בְּהַהוּא אֲתַר תָּדִיר). And if you say: if so, why did he not request it until now? (וְאִי תֵימָא אִי הָכִי אַמַּאי לָא בָעָא לָהּ עַד הַשְׁתָּא) Because they would not have paid attention to him, since he did not need it (בְּגִין דְּלָא יִשְׁגְּחוּן עֲלֵיהּ הוֹאִיל וְלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ). Now that he needed it, he said: this is the time to ask for it (הַשְׁתָּא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ, אָמַר: הָא שַׁעְתָּא לְמִתְבַּע לֵיהּ).