Parshas Chayei Sarah

Paying for holiness

Translated by R. Dov Grant

Bereishis 23:9 "Let him [Effron] give me the me'aras ha'machpeilah/double cave…for its full value"

Avraham had no desire to receive the me'aras ha'machpeilah (the future "Cave of the Patriarchs") as a gift from Effron, as the verse states "let him give [it] to me…for its full value" – because of the great power of the holiness of the place.

The klippos (the incorporation of evil forces) greatly surrounded the me'aras ha'machpeilah when it was in Effron's possession, causing it to be deeply dark. It was impossible to release it from these forces as a free gift; rather the full amount had to be paid. For the rule is that it is impossible to elevate holiness without payment – especially holiness as great as that associated with the me'aras ha'machpeilah.

The 400 shekels of kessef/silver that Avraham paid for the cave hints to [the kabbalistic concept of] "the 400 worlds of kissufin/yearning", as described in the Zohar. Avraham's money was very holy, revealing all the gevanim ila'in/Supernal Colors that represent the greatness of the Creator, which is the concept of the 400 worlds of kissufin that the tzaddikim delight in. They relate to the incorporation of all the holy gevanim that all desire and delight to gaze at.

This is the explanation of the verse (ibid. 16): "Avraham weighed out to Effron…400 internationally acceptable shekels of silver". The medium used in commerce and trade in every country is kessef/silver/money, as reflected by the verse "kessef answers everything". This is because kessef incorporates all the gevanim ila'in that incorporates all the 400 worlds of kissufin, which correspond to the 400 shekels of kessef.

It was with this force that Avraham purchased the me'aras ha'machpeilah from Effron – by revealing the greatness of the Creator through his 400 shekel of kessef, which incorporated all the gevanim, etc. This subjugated the klippos that had held a tight grip there, causing them to fall away and disappear. The field and cave then spiritually ascended and passed into Avraham's possession, as the verse states (ibid. 17): "Ve'yakam [lit: arose] the field of Effron", as Rashi explains "it received a rise [in importance] when it passed from a commoner to a king". This all occurred through the revelation of the gevanim in the kessef of Avraham.

One thing is for sure. Effron never got to enjoy any of those gevanim. These gevanim, representing those 400 worlds of yearning, disappeared from the money as soon as it reached Effron's [spiritually grubby] hands.

Hilchos Metanah 4-11