SUCCINCT SUMMARY
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One of Rashis 5 main goals is to explain overall structure
This is particularly true in poetic passages. We have
advocated that the best way to understand a poetic passage
is to
- identify the unifying idea
- review the clauses supporting this unifying idea
- emphasize nuances in these verses

EXAMPLE Gn49-06:09
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These verses contain the BLESSINGS OF JACOB
We believe the simplest way of taking Rashi is the following:
- The Patriarch Jacob is commenting in the blessings on PERSONALITY
- The primary proof of personality is the PAST
(eg Shimon pillages Schem)
- But Rashi enriches our understanding by giving FUTURE examples
(eg Shimons descendants rebel against Moses in Korach rebellion)

In other words Rashi never denies the SIMPLE MEANING of
the text which refers to past events like the kidnapping
of Joseph. However Rashi sees as his job to AUGMENT our
understanding of the blessings by bringing in OTHER EXAMPLES,
sometimes from the future.

Our contribution here is to deny that Rashi exhausted the
meaning of the blessings in these other examples from future
events. Rather Rashi believed that the verses did refer to
past events which are ALSO indicative of other future events.

In Gn49-08:09 Jacob praises Judah for his leadership in the
Joseph affair. (a) His brothers listened to him(not to kill
Joseph) (b) Judah overcame Shimons attempts to kill Jospeh
(c) after a weak beginning Judah took full responsibility
and reunited the family (d) Judah was above mere plundering
and concentrated on essentials.

Rashi points out that all these attributes occured in King
David, Judahs descendant.

(In passing: In explaining the above passage Rashi notes
that the word GO UP can metonomically also mean TO BE REMOVED
AND ABOVE something)

List of idioms using     metonomy(violent tool=criminal)