Why didn't the Benjamínites hand over the guilty party of Gibeah who raped the Levite's concubine?

[tonychanyt]

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Jdg 20:

13 Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.

Why?

1. The Benjaminites chose to protect their own. They valued tribal loyalty over justice.
2. They might see the demand challenging their autonomy/sovereignty and honor.
3. Their refusal might be due to a moral decline among the Benjam leadership.

The lack of a centralized authority (a king) contributed to the breakdown of justice and unity among the tribes. Without a leader to enforce God’s laws and mediate disputes, the tribes resorted to civil warfare.
The Benjamites’ refusal to hand over the guilty men of Gibeah was driven by tribal loyalty, pride, and a failure to uphold justice.