This faith of the Jewish people however, did not permeate their internal identity. It is explained in Chassidic thought, that although the Jewish people left Egypt, at that time, they were still attached to the negativity that was there:
Text 8
This [release of the soul from her exile in the body] is in the nature of the "Exodus from Egypt," in connection with which it is written, "The people had fled." At first sight it is strange that it should have happened in this way. For had Pharaoh been requested to liberate them forever, would he not have been compelled to let them go? But because the evil in the souls of the Israelites was still in its strength in the left part— for not until the Giving of the Torah did their impurity cease— yet their aim and desire was to free their divine souls from the exile of the sitra achra, which is the "Defilement of Egypt," and cleave to Him, blessed be He.
Tanya, Ch. 31
This event was expressive of the first level of revelation, where although the G-dly spark is revealed, it does not affect the person himself.
B) Before the erection of the Tabernacle:
After the acceptance of repentance for the Golden Calf the Jewish people built the mishkan. The building of the Mishkan was for the purpose of the Divine Presence residing amongst the Jewish people, as G-d instructed:
Text 9
And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in them.
Shemos 25:8
It was because G-d’s desire was for His presence to be expressed internally in the Jewish people, that the Jewish people were counted again. This counting revealed the essence of their soul to a degree that it affected their actual being, so that G-d could then “dwell in them.”
C) After the erection of the Tabernacle:
After Israel had already involved themselves in the service of the Temple, they became a dwelling place for G-d in their own right.
At this point, not only were they a receptacle for G-dliness because of a superimposed revelation of G-dliness, but through their service of G-d, they themselves became a vessel for that expression. At this point, not only were they a receptacle for G-dliness because of a superimposed revelation of G-dliness, but through their service of G-d, they themselves became a vessel for that expression.
