Michel's theory in action in prose

Michel's study of the verb in poetry was an attempt to describe the function of the tenses in prose as well by testing it in a genre, i.e. poetry, where the function of the tenses could not be obscured by the fact that they primarily refer to events in one time stage--like when in narrative mainly past events are in view. I want to show you two examples of how I think his theory does help explain the verb in narrative as well--at least narrative speech.

In Gen 43:9 Judah pledges himself as security for Benjamin with yiqtols then he switches to weqatals to explain exactly what he means by his pledge. There is no time reference difference between the forms. Both are future here. The weqatals do not add information. They explain the preceding yiqtols--just like Michel's theory teaches.

The same thing happens again in 43:14. Jacob expresses a desire that the man (Joseph) have mercy on the brothers with a yiqtol then he explains what having mercy would look like, i.e. may he set your other brother and Benjamin free. So the weqatal also expresses desire here. So the difference between these verbal forms is not one of tense or mood.