A downfall of Solomon was over exertion of building, construction, women, wealth and some other factors. Somewhere around 1742 B.C., we can read about historical factors of taxes.
The very thought of having about 700 royal wives and about 300 concubines, he had stretched himself too far and appears to have so many women around like toys or objects. Whatever.
The Pharisees and Herodians interrogated Jesus about taxes (Mark 12:14). The Jewish people had endured laborious taxes over long periods of time. 1 Kings 12:4, 2 Kings 3:4, and 2 Samuel 8:6 all speak about taxation. There were so many taxes. The taxes became oppressive.
Joseph, while in Egypt, warned of the coming seven years of famine after seven years of abundance. Jehovah had given Joseph a gift for interpreting dreams. Pharaoh was impressed with his acumen and placed him in charge of raising revenues by charging taxes.
Genesis 47:20-26 testifies to Pharaoh’s orders, which Joseph (being in charge of everything) followed to raise 20% taxes revenues during the time of famine and during the time of plenty. Pharaoh stored up land and food to carry the people through the famine. This brief quote explains some of the beginning of taxes: Genesis 47:12-26 (about 1706 B.C.).
Jacob, Joseph’s father and patriarch of the twelve tribes, came to Egypt due to the severe famine. “And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
“And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, ‘Give us bread: for why should we die in your presence? for the money fails.’”
Seeing that the money was gone and worthless, “Joseph said, ‘Give your cattle and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. Seeing and living in these dire circumstances, the people had no other place to go for food, because the famine was severe.”
Joseph had control and charge of all the goods. “And they brought their cattle to Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
“When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, ‘We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought (nothing left) left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:
“Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.
“And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s.And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.
“Then Joseph said to the people, ‘Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.’
“And they said, ‘You have saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants. And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.”
Now you might ask, where am I going with this all about taxes? Somewhere I read or heard the Inflation Reduction Act carries with it that the Internal Revenue Service will administer this tax with nearly 100 newly hired agents. That’s why I say, “Moanin’ and Groanin.”
Who do you think will pay for or from whom will this collapse in the overall revenue economic system come from? I’m just an onlooker and wondering where do we get $450 billion or trillion ($450,000,000,000 or $450,000,000,000,000) dollars or whatever the amount? You got it!
Ancient tax systems proved to fail. From ancient times, there were taxes on land, livestock, compulsory military service, import duties, crown tax, salt tax, tax on fishing rights, religious dues, tribute taxes, custom and toll taxes. There was even a bidding system to determine who would collect taxes!!
Under David and Solomon several taxes were established. Under Solomon, the taxes became so oppressive that they contributed to the split of the kingdom after his death (1 Kings 12:4).
Well, what do you think? Some might say, “Well as long as the collapse won’t happen during my lifetime.” But, what about our children and our children’s children and their issue thereafter? Let us plan wisely with caution. Who is making the decisions for our lives?
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90043, 323-293-9826, www.todaysfreshstart.org (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) Inquiring Minds Want to Know” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © The Holy Bible New Testament, Errors? Let me know. Sundays for music & message: 11:30am {1-712-775-8971—code 266751} References: (The Holy Bible) References: Holy Bible & Word In Life Study Bible. Pray. Don’t stop praying and hoping.
