Daily Tidbits 10/3/26 – Rutherford B. Hayes

On this date, 10/3/1822, Rutherford B. Hayes was born. In the Presidents Code, Hayes’ Presidency portrays the conflict of Jacob and Esau and Jacob fleeing to Padan Aram to live with Laban. The Presidents Code is a parable based upon the name meanings of the U.S. Presidents. Their name meanings tell the story of the Biblical text, from the beginning of creation unto the days of Christ. Based upon the premise of this code, it is seen that the very characters of the Presidents, from their personal characters to the events that occurred during their Presidencies reveal in parable form the exact same events of the Biblical narrative of which their name meanings describe. In other words, the history of the United States is displaying a giant parable of the Word of God.

President Rutherford B. Hayes
Republican 3/4/1877-3/4/1881

The 1876 election saw Republican Rutherford B. Hayes win the Presidency despite losing in the popular vote against Samuel J. Tilden. This was the most controversial Presidential election in the country’s history until the year 2000. Tilden had the lead in the electoral vote as well but there were 20 disputed electoral votes which were given to Hayes after the “Compromise of 1877” was struck which gave the Republicans the White House in exchange for withdrawal of troops out of the South, ending Reconstruction.

The controversy of this election and the perception that Hayes “stole” the Presidency points to the conflict of Jacob and Esau where Jacob stole the birthright from him (Genesis 27:36).

As a result of this election, Southern states were able to institute Jim Crow laws which dominated the South until the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. This points to the marriages of Esau to two Hittite wives which were a grief of mind of Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:35).

The name meaning of Rutherford B. Hayes is picturing Jacob’s fleeing from Esau and dwelling in the land of Padan Aram as a shepherd with Laban.

Rutherford is a surname in Scotland. The name has shady derivations but is related to the Celtic word ‘ruther’ which means red and a ford, which is shallow place in a river that is crossed over. It was due to the threat of Esau (who is known as Edom meaning red – Genesis 25:30) that Jacob had to flee Canaan over the river Jordan towards Haran.

The Hebrew word for ‘ford’ is עבר ‘avar’ which is the source of the word עברית ‘ivrit’ which means Hebrew. It was during this time that the blessing of Abraham the Hebrew (Genesis 14:13) passed to Jacob (Genesis 26:12-15).

Birchard means ‘hardy birches, dweller of the hard birch.’ Birchard comes from the English ‘birch’ and the Germanic ‘ard’ meaning hard or hardy. This word traces back further to the Hebrew word ברק ‘baraq’ which means bright or white, as in the bark of the birch tree. The birch is a tree which gets its name from its white color. After fleeing from Esau and traveling towards Padan Aram, Jacob went to live with Laban (Genesis 28:2) whose name in Hebrew means white.

Hayes is based on the Old English word ‘haes’ which means brushwood or underwood, an enclosure or hedge. Brushwood was used by the ancients, especially shepherds, to make temporary dwellings. This was the occupation of Jacob as he served Laban for twenty years (Genesis 31:38-41).

The Presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes was defined by the controversy of the Election of 1876. In 1876, Samuel Tilden had over 50 percent of the popular vote and had more Electoral votes than Hayes but not the majority needed to be proclaimed as President. Tilden had 184 electoral votes to Hayes’ 165 but there were 20 votes which were disputed. It is said that a deal was made between the Republicans of Hayes and the Democrats of Tilden where the Presidency would be given to Hayes in exchange for the withdrawal of troops out of the South. This became known as the Great Compromise of 1877. Hayes was given the 20 disputed Electoral votes and won the Presidency.

Samuel J. Tilden’s name meaning fits into the Biblical narrative as well. Tilden’s name is speaking of Rebekah hearing the words of wrath of Esau and her sending of Jacob into the land of her father. By God’s grace, Jacob was delivered out of Esau’s hands (Genesis 27:42).

Samuel means God hears. Jones means son of John. John means the camp or grace of Yah.

Tilden means ‘the fertile valley’ from the Old English byname ‘Tila’ meaning fertile and the Old English word ‘denu’ meaning valley. This phrase ‘fertile valley’ or ‘fat valley’ is only used one time in Scripture (Isaiah 28:1-4) and is speaking of the land of Ephraim. This is where Jacob begins his journey, leaving Beersheba and coming to Bethel where he meets with the Almighty (Genesis 28:10).

Due to Rutherford Hayes being elected by the Great Compromise of 1877, Hayes was called names such as the ‘great usurper’ and ‘Rutherfraud.’ This lines up with the conflict between Jacob and Esau where Jacob ‘usurped’ the birthright and blessing from Esau by ‘fraud’ (Genesis 27:36). This also describes the deception of Laban in giving Jacob his eldest daughter Leah instead of Rachel (Genesis 29:18-26).

Further connecting the wrath of Esau after Jacob stole his birthright was the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. This was the first nationwide labor strike in U.S. history. Due to the Panic of 1873, railroad workers were hit with longer hours and less pay leading to an uprising. In the code, the railroad system built during Lincoln’s days points to the travels of Abraham. During this time, we see the travels of Jacob who flees from the wrath of Esau.

The Great Compromise was considered the ‘End of Reconstruction,’ which was the last phase of Civil War. The Civil War Era depicts the time period of Abraham to Isaac. Hayes’ Presidency displays a new era in the Bible, focusing on Jacob’s life. Hayes’ Presidency is also said to be the beginning of Second Industrial Revolution or Technological Revolution which was a time period which lasted until World War I. This time period corresponds with Jacob’s life unto the days of Israel going down into Egypt.

Review

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidency is a picture of Jacob fleeing from Esau to the land of Padan Aram where he serves Laban for 20 years as a shepherd. Here Jacob is concealed from the wrath of his brother.

The Presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes was defined by the controversy of the Election of 1876. Hayes did not have the popular vote or electoral vote to win the Presidency but through the Great Compromise of 1877 he became President. This corresponds with supplanting of the blessing by Jacob which led to his fleeing into the land of Padan Aram. Hayes’ Presidency ended the Civil War period and began the Second Industrial Revolution which points to Jacob’s life unto the days of Israel going down into Egypt.

For more on the parable of the Presidents Code: