What pattern did Les point out about government taxes and spending before discussing Solomon?
Government can raise taxes, but it spends twice as much as it raises. That pattern is not new, and the same cycle appeared under Solomon: heavy taxation led to resentment and eventually revolt. Rehoboam then refused to lower taxes, prompting the ten northern tribes to secede.
Les teaches that governments can raise our taxes, but they spend twice as much as what they raised. He then says it was the same way under Solomon, because nothing is new under the sun. Solomon taxed the people heavily, and they told Rehoboam that his father was a great king but had taxed them and taxed them. They advised him to back off, and Israel would elevate him. Les notes this was good advice, but Rehoboam said, “No way,” and chose to tax them some more. When Rehoboam refused to lower the taxes and keep peace among the people, the ten tribes of the north seceded and made Jeroboam their own king.