‘ And the children of Israel left there at that time, every man to his tribe and every man to his family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.'
The repetition is typical of ancient literature and Hebrew parallelism. Their task finished, and Benjamin on the way to restoration, they could return to their homes (see Judges 20:8). They went to their tribe, to whom their loyalty was due, and through whom God's future blessings would come on them as promised to Abraham; to their family (clan) to whom they owed specific allegiance and from whom they too would be ministered justice; and to their inheritance in Israel, which was their reward for being in the covenant. Having fulfilled God's work in their own way they were able to proceed with life in a covenant relationship with God, satisfied that the stain of the folly had been removed from them.