Jueces 20:12

12 Y las tribus de Israel enviaron varones por toda la tribu de Benjamín, diciendo: ¿Qué maldad es ésta que ha sido hecha entre vosotros?

Jueces 20:12 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:12

And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribes of
Benjamin
Meaning the families of Benjamin; for as sometimes a tribe is called a family, ( Joshua 7:17 ) so a family is called a tribe; and there were ten families in the tribe of Benjamin, according to the number of his sons, the fathers of these families. ( Genesis 46:21 ) , which being numerous and powerful, and consisting of men of courage, and expert in war, thought themselves a match for the ten tribes of Israel now assembled, who sent one out of each tribe, very probably ten in all, upon this errand; for they judged it most advisable, before they went to war with them, to try to get the offenders, delivered up to justice, and so prevent the shedding of blood of either side; and the rather, as there were none of the tribe of Benjamin at this assembly, and which indeed might give them reason to suspect they meant not to join with them in an amicable manner in this affair: however, they were willing to try peaceable methods first:

saying, what wickedness is this that is done among you?
not that they were sent to inquire what the crime was that was committed, that was fully known; but by putting the question in this manner, their design was to aggravate it, and to put the men of Benjamin on considering how great it was, what an enormous sin it was that was committed, and that among them; and therefore it lay upon them, either to punish the perpetrators of it themselves or deliver them up to them to be punished according to the common law of Israel.

Jueces 20:12 In-Context

10 Y tomaremos diez hombres de cada ciento por todas las tribus de Israel, y de cada mil ciento, y mil de cada diez mil, que lleven bastimento para el pueblo que ha de hacer, yendo contra Gabaa de Benjamín, conforme á toda la abominación que ha cometido en Israel.

11 Y juntáronse todos los hombres de Israel contra la ciudad, ligados como un solo hombre.

12 Y las tribus de Israel enviaron varones por toda la tribu de Benjamín, diciendo: ¿Qué maldad es ésta que ha sido hecha entre vosotros?

13 Entregad pues ahora aquellos hombres, hijos de Belial, que están en Gabaa, para que los matemos, y barramos el mal de Israel. Mas los de Benjamín no quisieron oir la voz de sus hermanos los hijos de Israel;

14 Antes los de Benjamín se juntaron de las ciudades de Gabaa, para salir á pelear contra los hijos de Israel.