Did the Old Testament writers research what the tribes of Israel thought before writing?
No. The Old Testament did not come from men researching what the tribe of Dan or Benjamin thought. Peter says nothing in the Old Testament came by men dreaming it up, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved, or inspired, by the Holy Spirit.
Les explains that skeptics and scoffers claim the Old Testament arose from ancient campfire stories that were verbally passed down until someone decided to write them, but he calls that ridiculous. Peter says nothing in the Old Testament came by men dreaming it up, nor by men going out to research what the tribe of Dan or Benjamin thought. Instead, the Holy Spirit caused men like Moses, David, Elijah, and Jeremiah to write. They did not speak by the will of man; as holy, separated men of God, they spoke as they were moved—or inspired—by the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit is the author, there is no confusion, contrary to the scoffer's claim of contradictions; everything fits when Scripture is compared with Scripture.