9716. 'Five cubits the length and five cubits the breadth' means that which consists equally of good and of truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'five' as an equality, for when two dimensions are the same as each other, as the length and the breadth are here, an equality is meant (the reason why the length and the breadth of the altar were five cubits each was that five is also similar in meaning to ten, a hundred, and a thousand. These numbers mean what is much, all, or complete, and in the highest sense, in which the Lord is the subject, what is infinite. Five too has much the same meaning, since composite numbers are similar in meaning to the simple ones of which they are the products, and simple numbers are accordingly similar to their composites, 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973. For the meaning of ten, a hundred, and a thousand as what is much, all, or complete, see 2636, 3107, 4400, 4638, 8715, and five likewise, 5708, 5956, 9102; and for the meaning of a thousand, used in reference to the Divine, as what is infinite, 2575); from the meaning of 'the length' as good, dealt with in 1613, 9487; and from the meaning of 'the breadth' as truth, dealt with in 1613, 3433, 3434, 4482, 9487. From all this it is evident that 'five cubits the length and five cubits the breadth' means that which consists equally of good and of truth. The expression 'equally of good and of truth' is used when the truth complements the good and the good complements the truth, thus when they act as one and form a marriage, such as the Lord causes them to do in heaven. Human will and understanding may serve to illustrate this. When the understanding acts as one with the will, that is, when the person perceives truth to be the complement of good, and good to be the complement of truth, that which consists equally of good and of truth exists with him. Furthermore the understanding has been dedicated to perceiving the truth that emanates from good, and the will to perceiving the good present within truth.

9487. 'Two cubits and a half shall be its length' means all so far as good is concerned. This is clear from the meaning of 'two and a half' as much and as what is complete, and as all when this number has reference to something Divine (the reason why 'two and a half' means much and what is complete is that this number is similar in meaning to five, ten, a hundred, and a thousand, since twice two and a half makes five, twice five makes ten, and ten times ten makes a hundred; for doubles and multiples have a similar meaning to the simple numbers of which they are the products, 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973. For the meaning of 'five' as much and completeness, see 5708, 5956, 9102; likewise 'ten', 3107, 4638; also 'a hundred', 2636, 4400; and a thousand, 2575, 8715. So it is that when these numbers are used in reference to something Divine they mean all); and from the meaning of 'length' as good, dealt with in 1613, 8898.

[2] To say that 'length' in the Word means good and 'breadth' truth may seem to be like nonsense; nevertheless this is indeed what they mean. The reason why they do so is that all things without exception in the Word mean realities such as belong to heaven and to the Church, and so such as are connected with the good of love and with the truth of faith. No spatial dimensions such as 'length' and 'breadth' imply can be attributed to these; but instead of spatial dimensions the state of their essential being (esse), which is a state of good, and the resulting state of manifestation (existere), which is a state of truth, can be attributed to them. Furthermore in heaven spatial dimensions are appearances produced by those states, 4882, 9440. From all this it becomes clear that spiritual realities are meant by the measurements and dimensions given in Chapters 40-48 of Ezekiel, where a new temple and a new land are the subject. They are consequently meant here in Exodus, where the ark, the dwelling-place, the court, the tables there, and the altars are the subject. Such realities are in a similar way meant where the temple in Jerusalem is the subject, also when it says that the holy Jerusalem coming down from heaven was square, its breadth being as great as its length, Revelation 21:16; Zechariah 2:1-2. For 'Jerusalem' means a new Church, the character of its good being meant by the measurement of its length, and the character of its truth by that of its breadth.

[3] The fact that 'breadth' or 'broad place' means truth is plainly evident in David,

In distress I called on Jah; He answered me in a broad place. Psalms 118:5.

In the same author,

You have made my feet stand in a broad place. Psalms 31:8.

In Isaiah,

The outstretchings of Asshur's wings will fill the breadth of the land. Isaiah 8:8.

In Habakkuk,

I am rousing the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation, marching ¹ into the breadths of the earth. Habakkuk 1:6.

'Marching into the breadths of the earth', when said of the Chaldeans, means destroying the truths of faith.

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