Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel. (Judges 20:13)
The sin committed was so grave that it called for the death penalty. Only in that way could the tribes be free from guilt (see Deut. 13:5; 17:7; 19:19-21).
Would not hearken.
The tribe of Benjamin preferred civil war to giving up their criminals. Tribal pride and solidarity in this instance served to uphold and defend men of the worst sort.