“But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai” (v64). The new census of Israelites taken “by the Jordan at Jericho” counted all the men able “to go to war”. It was a new list, because all the men that Moses and Aaron had counted in the wilderness had died there due to unbelief, except Caleb and Joshua (v65). “Israel” continued, with those of the new generation who were willing to dwell in the Promised Land by faith in God.

Every generation provides a new opportunity for men and women to choose by faith to be part of “the congregation” (v2). Our divine inheritance comes not from family or culture, but is a gift “to all who receive him” by faith (John 1:13).