The question, Tell us, how did this evil happen?
underlines that this assembly functions as a court. They want to hear from the Levite the details of the atrocity at Gibeah. And at first this looks good. The Lord had taught his people that his justice requires that all alleged crimes be investigated. So we have here a case of church discipline. But we need to keep reading to see just how it goes.
3 (Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this evil happen?”