Matthew Poole and continuators on Judges 20:12

12 ¶ And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?

Heb. tribes: Either the Plural Number for the Singular: or rather tribe is put for family, as was noted before, as families are elsewhere put for tribes. They take a wise and a just course, in sending to all the parts and families of the tribe, to separate the Innocent from the Guilty, and to give them a fair opportunity of preventing their ruin, by doing nothing but what their Duty, Honour, and Interest obliged them to; even by delivering up those vile Malefactors, whom they could not keep without horrid guilt and shame; and bringing the Curse of God upon themselves.