“Ephron’s field, which was in Machpelah . . . was confirmed as Abraham’s, as a purchase. . .”

-Chayei Sarah 23:17-18

Abraham’s purchase of the field which contained the Cave of Machpelah represents the beginning of the general redemption of all Jews. The commentary Pa’ane’ach Raza explains that with the 400 silver shekels that Abraham paid (Chayei Sarah 23:16), he purchased one square cubit of the Land of Israel for every one of the 600,000 root-souls of Israel. For by the estimation of “the seed of a chomer of barley at fifty silver shekels” (Vayikra 27:16), 400 silver shekels redeem exactly 600,000 square cubits. 1