Tower of Babel

by Bodie Hodge

Author Bodie Hodge researched ancient texts, critical clues and rare historic records for the purpose of defending the Biblical account of the tower of Babel. Written in layman's terms, The Tower of Babel is an excellent way to find your cultural connection to the Bible. It is also a great reference for Biblical classes, ancient history, and apologetics training.

Genres: History, Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Faith, Christianity, Research

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Bodie Hodge is the author of Fall of Satan and co-author of Dragons: Legends and Lore of Dinosaurs. He is on the staff of Answers in Genesis, and is a speaker, writer, contributor, and researcher on a host of topics related to apologetics, biblical history, and the book of Genesis.

Reviews

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tower of Babel — a myth passed down through the ages or an important historical event that's recorded in the Bible?

✏️ Review ✏️

Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors is an interesting case study about the nations' dispersion from the Tower of Babel. This book delves into both ancient histories and modern research in tracing the ancestry, cultural lifestyle, and immigration routes of the people groups who scattered and ventured out into other parts of the world from Babel. It's a rather fascinating study, I must say, especially considering how the Old Testament genologies provide an important link to where people groups originated. Granted it can become somewhat confusing at times keeping all the names straight, though. While I was aware of some of the topics that are discussed in Tower of Babel, I didn't know how much study and research actually points to there having been a literal Tower of Babel. Bodie Hodge (the author) presents much of this research while also providing his own conjectures on certain events and such. Hodge does clarify that the conclusions he presents would ultimately benefit from further research and encourages readers to use this book as a springboard for further research on the subject.

While much of Tower of Babel traces mankind's paths of immigration from Babel, Hodge also presents intriguing facts and research about the similarities, differences, and origin of various language families. I found this topic to be of particular educational value.

The writing style wasn't that engaging; many times it seemed kind of repetitive or too simplistic, not to mention that there are some grammatical mistakes that make an appearance in this treatise (in other words, the book would've benefited from having an editor).

Nonetheless, Tower of Babel would make a great starting point for anyone interested in exploring the origination of different people groups in light of the history found in the Bible.

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📊 A Quick Overview 📊

👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The presentation of ancient histories and modern research concerning the Tower of Babel.
• The exploration of the origin and similarities of different language families.
• The examples provided showing how the biblical genologies are used to trace the origins of various people groups.

👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• Some part of the writing — repetitious or too simplistic.

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❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓

— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*

— To whom? To those who enjoy nonfiction reads that explore ancient history in light of what the Bible says on the subject.

*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)

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📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3/5)
~Fundamentals {Nonfiction Version}: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📑 Didactics: 3.5/5

— 📝 Writing: 2/5

— 👀 Engagement: 3/5

— 🧩 Clarity: 3.5/5

~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)

— 🤬 Language: 0/5

— ⚔️ Violence: 0/5

— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5

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📣 Random Comments 📣

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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬

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[NicAlba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to the questions that arise from the Tower of Babel, including the theories, history, and evidence that exists. The author did a good job discussing the different theories and possible answers to Babel questions and whether there is evidence, possible or no. Very respectful and encouraging readers to dive deeper, referencing sources in the footnotes. This book is a good starting point into the subject of the Tower of Babel.

[Bonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

What greater treat for a genealogist like myself than this genealogy of the entire world, tracing people groups back to Noah through the dispersion at the Tower of Babel! A fascinating insight into the early history of our ancestors. It was especially exciting to see the names of locations still used today that reflect the names of their original namesakes, grandchildren of Noah!

[Foundations Creation · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars
Difficulty: Easy to read and understand, layman's terms.
Age Recommendation: Preteens, Teens, and Adults.

Often times, when eating a meal with our extended family, the topic of of ancestry is brought up in discussion. We hear of a famous actor or sports player who was related to us in some distant way, or of a strange marriage arrangement which connects two related families, and so on. Oftentimes, the conclusion of such conversations is simply the old saying, “It’s a small world!” However, the real conclusion should be that we are all one human family...and we all go back to Adam, and more recently, the Tower of Babel.

In this eye-opening volume, Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors, biblical history buff, Bodie Hodge of Answers in Genesis, “maps it all out” (literally) from Babel to today, starting from the authoritative history found in the pages of Scripture. One thing that is particularly common with most literature written about the Tower of Babel today, is that it usually starts from a ‘traditionalist’ reading of the Biblical text and not necessarily what the text actually says. Not so with this book, in which Hodge presents a case for the rebellion and dispersion at Babel based on what is clearly revealed in the Word of God, and uses it to explain the world’s cultures, customs, legends, and languages. Perhaps one of the most fascinating things about this book is that it ties the ancient world with the modern world, showing how many of the Earth’s geographical locations and cities are named after biblical patriarchs, how some of the pagan ‘deities‘ worshipped in ancient times are really the ancestors of these people groups who were dispersed from Babel, and how the languages of today would have developed from the language families given by God at Babel.

After having read Bill Cooper’s groundbreaking work on the genealogy and ancient history of Europe, After the Flood, I was eager to learn more, but was saddened by the fact that there is very little work (much less reliable or biblical) on this intriguing topic. When I received notice that Master Books (a division of New Leaf Publishing Group) was publishing a new release on this topic, I immediately requested a copy to review. Having read through it now, I am looking forward to distributing this book in our creation club bookstore at our monthly meetings. Here are just a few of my thoughts on this fascinating title:

- Bodie Hodge has certainly done his homework, and has laid solid ground for further research in this important area.
- This is a very readable book; any preteen could pick up and fully understand this book.
- The chapters (with an exception of Chapter 17) are very short (4-8 pages) and meant for easy and timely reading; great for travel. (Note: I read the last 1/3 of the book in a the center aisle of an airplane.)
- Chapter 17, though a long read, has been thoroughly researched and includes priceless information on the whereabouts and travels of the biblical patriarchs, which are confirmed by the records of extra-biblical historians and culture experts.
- The whole of the book is truly challenging (in a good way, ‘as iron sharpens iron’) for creationists, since a majority of the book is focused on refuting some of the formerly held (even by the author) misconceptions about the Tower of Babel event, and giving biblical creationists a wholly biblical understanding which stays loyal to the text of Genesis 10-11.

Conclusion: Everyone wants to know about their family tree. Many non-Christian religions and cults are entirely focused on knowing who their ancestors are. However, as Hodge concludes in this book, it is because we are all one human family through our ancestor Adam that we all need a Savior who is one of our relatives: Jesus Christ. The message of the Bible’s trustworthiness inevitably leads one to the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, which is the end-all message of this must-have, faith-building book. I highly recommend picking up a copy of Bodie Hodge’s Tower of Babel!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 overall. The second half of the book (dispersion of peoples, their names and place names and connections between them) was a 4 to 5 star read.

[William Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read. I don't agree with a few conclusions but Dr. Hodge has fairly explored and attempted to refute some of my own perspective. I love the detailed analysis and yet succinct chapters including the utilization of footnotes. This book addresses issues such as the attack on Divine authority, the historicity of the Tower of Babel, the location and purpose of the Tower, race and racism, language (unfortunately, Dr. Hodge doesn't agree that Hebrew is the original language but not without his reasons - which he does a wonderful job explaining), human age and lifespan, the origin of writing. Dr. Hodge places a very short chapter (almost too short) on "Seeing Christ at Babel" (Chapter 29). His later dating of Job is something worth considering (he places Job somewhere between the time of Moses and the Judges) - but like most of the arguments posited throughout the book, Dr. Hodge is gracious and non binding (per se). This book at times makes you feel like its easy reading, and then plunges you into the weeds of detailed depths in a valley of overwhelming data. Just a fascinating read.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read from Bodie Hodge. He covered a lot of ground, ranging on multiple topics connected with the Tower of Babel. I found much of the information given in a well thought through method. He gave all sides before giving his personal take. There were some topics & chapters that were difficult to wade through. Hence the 3 stars. Some of it was just beyond me & my desire to take it all in. I could have easily given the book 3.5 - 4 stars.

[Scott Rezer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great research on the seventy nations of Genesis 10. A good layman book for those wishing to gain a better understanding of the genealogy of nations.

[ClaraBelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book on the true story and alleged contradictions/ myths about the Tower of Babel!
Rating: 3 stars
Warning: none
What I loved: everything
Interest level: kinda 85% absorbing with some miscellaneous items being boring

[Holly Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors
by Bodie Hodge

One of my favorite books of all time is After the Flood, by Bill Cooper. I always hoped that somebody would have the time to do a little more in-depth research on the history of the various families after the dispersion of Babel, so I was thrilled when I found out that Bodie Hodge had done just that! (Being an aspiring polyglot, a genealogist, and a lover of history, there really isn't anything a book could offer that could be any more exciting than a study of the dispersions of families and languages and the nations they formed!) The Tower of Babel was everything I hoped it would be: clearly laid out, (as the author says, “layperson-friendly”!), well researched, in-depth without being overwhelming, and decidedly grounded on a Christian world-view. While the Bible is Mr. Hodge's primary source, he also references many extra-biblical writings, such as the writings of Josephus, Nennius, and many others.

The book is written in a question-and-answer format. I really liked that, because it kept each aspect of Babel and the dispersion of families on-track; no waffling around or side-tracking onto other topics or into other points. This also meant that the information was covered in bite-sized chunks – a question, ranging from the authority of the Bible to the reason for the scattering of nations to the probable appearance of the Tower of Babel, with its answer – all neatly laid out. Some of the questions Mr. Hodge thought to cover surprised me – usually questions that had never occurred to me before but which would raise in my mind as some of the material was presented, such as “was the Tower of Babel finished?” and “what about the Americas?” Other questions were about things I had wondered about for a while, such as the timing of the splitting up of the continents, and the person of Nimrod.

The charts and maps Mr. Hodge included were also a delightful surprise. I assumed there would be some sort of chart showing the Table of Nations, and there was. But as I would read along in a section, I'd find myself thinking that I ought to chart this out, give myself a visual aid, and then I'd turn the page and find that Mr. Hodge had already done so! Examples of a couple I found especially helpful are the charts of the Descendants of Noah, a listing of some of the mythological “gods” and the real people they were likely based on, and a wonderful chart showing the various extra-biblical legends based on the Tower of Babel and the resulting division of languages. There were many more diagrams, illustrations, and charts included; very useful for a “visual” learner!

Before reading this book, I thought I knew something of the descendents of Noah and of post-Flood history, but I was amazed to discover how much more closely connected we all are; how much more interchange and intermarriage there was than what I had previously thought. I suppose this shouldn't have come as a surprise, but it did. Something which was not at all a surprise but which I found myself contemplating more through reading this book was that human beings have been civilized for a long time – the children of Noah and their children were civilized. After Babel, people took what they knew with them, giving a common beginning to all peoples and resulting in similarities in architecture, in stories, and in art. On one level, I knew this, but reading the many, many examples, and then seeing the
chart of the descendents of Noah and the countries they eventually settled really drove it all home to me.

Rarely do I learn so much from a book so thoroughly enjoyable to read! The Tower of Babel is a definite keeper, a book I know I will be referring to often.

I received a free copy of this book from New Leaf Publishing in return for my honest evaluation.

– CR

[RH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will blow your mind----It was an absolutely fascinating read! I thought at first that it would be a bit dry, but within two chapters, author Bodie Hodge had captured my attention, and kept it for the duration of the book. I had to slow my reading down when I hit the various people groups and their dispersion, and there's no doubt that new information could be gleaned if one read the book several times.

Chapter 17 is definitely the longest chapter as it comes in at 70 pages. Entitled "Where Did All the People Go Initially" it was the only chapter in which I found myself to be a bit lost! Bodie Hodge did a fine job of keeping it simple, for which I was grateful, because there was an absolute avalanche of data presented. Towards the end of that chapter, he did state, "This book is intended to be a diving point for further research." When I read that, I understood better why the information was presented in the fast paced manner that it was. Truly, the book would have probably been three or four times as long if he gone into greater detail on the various people groups! Bodie Hodge himself said several times throughout that there could be enough research done to fill several books. Several in our family are very interested in ancestry, and anyone else who finds themselves to be taken with such things will soon find themselves engrossed in the many charts, tables, and maps trying to find out where their particular people group came from originally.

One of my favorite chapters was number 12, "Did All ~7,000 Languages Today Come Out of Babel?" Here the author explains that the answer is no; looking at the English language first he explores the many kinds of "English" spoken today, from British English, to American English, and even dives into the difference between dialects spoken in America, including his own western Illinois dialect, to those who live in the South and speak a unique American English. He also dives into Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Late Modern English. Perhaps the most interesting of all was the explanation of the Chinese language and how it is built on images. Bodie Hodge says, "Many of the characters of an ancient Chinese dialect are built directly on Genesis. The character for 'boat' was made of up three other characters-a vessel, eight, and mouth. Interestingly in Genesis 6-8, the ark was a large vessel that had eight people aboard and only eight human mouths to speak and feed." Reading many, many, such paragraphs throughout the book caused me to want research further!

Bodie Hodge also covers the term Aryan and where that people group comes from. "The Medes, Parthians, Persians, and some others who spoke the same language in Bactria, and combined were deemed the Aryan people." Ironically enough, although the term Aryan was used by Hitler and Nazis as a term for the only "pure" people group, their ancestors "were one of the most famous groups of people who were of mixed descent." Most of this was new data for me, and I found it both interesting and informative.

Beautifully written in laymen's terms, "Tower of Babel" will be a research tool that you will find yourself turning to again and again. For those desire to hone in on their biblical world view, or help their children form a worldview, this book will be found a valuable aid. Five stars.

*Thanks to Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group for providing a free copy to me in exchange for my honest review.

[Stacie Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Tower of Babel, in exchange for review from New Leaf Publishing group. I received the Kindle edition of the book. The book was written by Bodie Hodge and published by Master Books.

The book starts out with a discussion on how some people don't believe in the bible. Some people doubt the bible. Some people think the stories are made up (Noah's Ark and the Tower of Babel for example). The bible is under attack. The book is also easy-to-read, which is good for any theology book. The chapters are short as well. Next, the first chapter discusses how to pronounce Babel. Chapter two discusses attacks against Babel's existence (racism, mythology, and re-interpretation). I love how the book provides biblical proof for every attack. Then, the book goes into the biblical account of Babel. Before, the whole world had one language. Everyone could communicate with each other. Of course, someone (or a group of people) got an idea to bake some bricks. Another someone (or group of people) wanted to build a city, high as the sky. They wanted to be renown, but this displeased the Lord. The Lord decided to confuse this wonderful group by giving them multiple languages. No one understood the other and Babel was not completed. The people was also scattered across the Earth. Babel helped divide families and divide lands (Genesis 11: 1-9).

Chapter 6 focuses on why people was disobedient to God. Why did God confuse their language and scatter people across the heart? The book talked about how God is a fair Judge and does not punish without due cause. We also are sinners, falling short of the glory of God. The descendants of Noah, at that time, wanted to defy God, by scattering across the earth, on their own. The people also wanted to be renown and make a name for themselves, versus God. Chapter 7 focuses on when the scattering occurred. The book discusses how the scattering may have occurred 106 years after the Flood. The scattering may also have caused the world to break apart into multiple regions (sort of like Pangaea. One continent at first, but broke apart into multiple regions and continents). There already had been continental movements during the Flood (Mount Arafat, for example was formed during the flood) but more may have occurred after Babel. There is a chart, in Chapter 7, which lists estimated biblical dates, determined by Archbishop James Ussher. Chapter 8 focuses on where the scattering occurred. Babel occurred between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The Garden of Eden was also located near there. YET, The Tigris and Euphrates may not be the same Tigris and Euphrates from the Garden of Eden. Sometimes people name places after other people, places, and things (Martin Luther King, Thames River (3 locations), Versailles. Names can transfer from one thing to another thing. The book also discusses Babylon.

I was definitely impressed with this book. I normally do not read theology because some of it is difficult to understand. I prefer the practical knowledge. How can I apply this theory to my life? This book was easy to read and easy to follow. The chapters are short. Each section also has footnotes and references for additional study. Definitely am thinking of getting a print edition. I chose this book because I have heard of Babel in the bible, but did not know much of anything else about it. The book also had easy to read charts and photographs.

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book:

The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors reveals our shared ancestry as never before! Many are familiar with the Biblical account of Babel, but after the dispersal, there was a void beyond Biblical history until empires like Rome and Greece arose. Now, discover the truth of these people groups and their civilizations that spread across the earth and trace their roots back to Babel as well as to the sons and grandsons of Noah.

Many of today’s scholars write off what occurred at the Tower of Babel as mythology and deny that it was a historical event. Beginning with the Biblical accounts, author Bodie Hodge researched ancient texts, critical clues, and rare historic records to help solve the mystery of what became of the failed builders of Babel. For the purpose of defending the Bible, Hodge presents these and other vital historical facts surrounding this much-debated event. Teens and older can use this layman’s reference for Biblical classes, ancient history, apologetics training, and to realize their own cultural connection to the Bible.

A speaker and researcher for Answers in Genesis, Bodie Hodge is known for his contribution to and authoring of other Christian apologetics titles including:

Begin
Fall of Satan
Answers Books Series
How Do We Know the Bible is True Vol 1 & 2
Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions Series
About the Author:

Mr. Bodie Hodge attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and received a B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering. His specialty was a subset of mechanical engineering based in advanced materials processing, particularly starting powders. Currently, Bodie is a speaker, writer, and researcher for Answers in Genesis–USA. He is the author of The Fall of Satan and co-author of Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs.

My Review:

I was not aware until reading this book that there are many people out there that either don't believe the Tower of Babel existed or they believe that it is just an example or metaphor that is alive and well in today's culture. I believe whatever the Bible states so to me existed and I believe that it shows what God did to some that were trying real hard to work against Him. The author in this book has provided an in depth study of the Tower of Babel study and I found it to be quite interesting. He begins with racism and how any good and Bible believing Christian should completely stand against it. Which I have always explained to my children when questioned as to why there are different races or where did everyone come from? We would go to the Bible and discuss this story.

If you are like most of us and have decided to read the Bible from cover to cover or even just read the sections that contain the genealogies. You would probably just sweetly and indiscreetly skip over those. After all that is ALOT of begetting, but I digress. Well in this book the author takes you through them and helps you to understand them better. Not only will the tracings reveal the founders of some of the earliest civilizations known to history. But you may also locate and find your own families heritage.

If you would like any more information on this book or to purchase this book you can do so here
**Disclosure** This book was provided to me at no charge for my honest review from Master Books/New Leaf Publishing Group.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tower of Babel" by Bodie Hodge is a new book that traces the ancestry of modern humans back to the dispersion of mankind at the Tower of Babel". I found that Mr. Hodge's research was very in-depth and thorough. At times, I was actually overwhelmed by the amount, and the detail, of his findings.

For anyone who believes that the Biblical record is true, this is a faith-building book. Mr. Hodge treats the account of the global flood, and of the language-confusing dispersion of the people at Babel, as fact and then proceeds to trace lineages of the dispersed people through time to us. For those who deny the biblical record, this book will challenge your belief system.

As Mr. Hodge lays out lineages for the reader, he also touches on several other subjects that I found both fascinating and informative. Mr. Hodge begins the book by looking at how the word “Babel” is pronounced, citing some etymological background. He also explains some of the attacks on the account of Babel from secular, and Christian, groups. Mr. Hodge rightly (in my opinion) says that the denial of the account of Babel is tied into a denial of the authority of God’s Word overall.

Mr. Hodge tackles supposed contradictions associated with the Babel account. He goes on to present his well-researched viewpoints as to why the people were dispersed at Babel, where Babel was located, what was the purpose of the Tower of Babel, and what kind of tower it was. Mr. Hodge has obviously done much research on this subject.

The question of just what is meant in Genesis 10:25 concerning the, “…days the earth was divided”. Mr. Hodge lays out a convincing view that this refers to the division of the people not the division of land masses which he says, and I agree, happened during and after the Flood. The false belief that dark-skinned people resulted from the “Curse of Ham” (found in Genesis 9:25) is addressed and shown to be unfounded.

The long ages lived by early humans is also explained quite handily by Mr. Hodge, as is the cause of our ever-decreasing longevity. I found the chapter on the origin of writing to be especially interesting as it is something in which I am very interested. Although, I don’t believe there is a lot to investigate concerning the origin of writing. My viewpoint, and Mr. Hodges, is that God gave Adam and Eve the ability to speak, there is no reason for Him not to give them the ability to write also.

When one takes the Word of God at face value, instead of trying to make everything we see fit an evolutionary (or even an old-earth) model, one sees history in a completely different way. We have never been apes, fish, or any other lower form of life which developed over great amounts of time into what we are today. We were created by an almighty loving God to whom we owe everything. Mr. Hodge’s book “Tower of Babel” approaches history with this presupposition…and he delivers a book that powerfully upholds the authority of God and His Word.

One quote that stood out to me concerns those who think that they must have every question answered in order for them to believe the Bible. Mr. Hodge writes, “Remember, the Bible gives us sufficient information, not all information” (p. 196, italics his). God has answered, in His Word, all the questions that we need answered in order to love, worship, obey, and have a saving relationship with Him. All we have to do is read His Word to know these things.

[Mazzou B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors reveals our shared ancestry as never before! Many are familiar with the Biblical account of Babel, but after the dispersal, there was a void beyond Biblical history until empires like Rome and Greece arose. Now, discover the truth of these people groups and their civilizations that spread across the earth and trace their roots back to Babel as well as to the sons and grandsons of Noah.
Tower of Babel Reviews AvailableAuthor Bodie Hodge researched ancient texts, critical clues and rare historic records for the purpose of defending the Biblical account of the tower of Babel. Written in layman’s terms, The Tower of Babel is an excellent way to find your cultural connection to the Bible. It is also a great reference for Biblical classes, ancient history, and apologetics training.

Since history is one of my favourite things to study, I was quite intrigued by this book. And I was not disappointed. I have always been extremely interested in not only the history of each and every country in the world, but the origins of each civilization, the history of different ethnic groups and so on! To my delight, this book covers each of those topics, delving into incredibly complex family trees beginning with Noah and his family. I can't begin to imagine how much research a project like this took! As you read this book, you too will find yourself immensely grateful to the author for making the geneologies of the early Old Testament clear for us! This book would be a remarkable addition to any library. I also strongly recommend homeschooling mothers to have it on hand for reference when teaching about ancient cultures.

I must add that I found the book to be somewhat prolix at times, and it takes a bit of thought to grasp all the geneologies even so carefully explained.
Not a book for a child under the age of 13 to tackle on his own.

As I read and often return to this book for reference, I find that one thing would greatly add to this book's usefulness and that would be an index, something which this book is lacking! Other than that, I can hardly fine negative feedback for this interesting book.
The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors reveals our shared ancestry as never before! Many are familiar with the Biblical account of Babel, but after the dispersal, there was a void beyond Biblical history until empires like Rome and Greece arose. Now, discover the truth of these people groups and their civilizations that spread across the earth and trace their roots back to Babel as well as to the sons and grandsons of Noah.
Author Bodie Hodge researched ancient texts, critical clues and rare historic records for the purpose of defending the Biblical account of the tower of Babel. Written in layman’s terms, The Tower of Babel is an excellent way to find your cultural connection to the Bible. It is also a great reference for Biblical classes, ancient history, and apologetics training.

this book is published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group

[Jeff Randleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years ago, a friend gave me a copy of After The Flood, by Bill Cooper. I was fascinated, and read through the entire book, appendices and all, in a couple of evenings. It was full of research and details about what happened just after Noah's Flood, and how mankind was forced to spread out across the face of the earth after God's actions at the Tower of Babel.

I loved the information presented in After The Flood. But I wasn't aware of much else along the same lines until recently.

A few days ago, I received a copy of Bodie Hodge's Tower of Babel. Once again, I devoured this book, cover to cover, in just a couple of evenings. I simply couldn't put it down.

Tower of Babel is packed full of tons of incredible information. And after reading it, one has to wonder how mankind can continue to deny God's existence and involvement throughout history.

To start out, Hodge covers several important questions about history shortly after Noah's Flood. He takes several brief chapters and quickly discusses such topics as why man was disobedient, when this dispersion occurred,and where it occurred. He discusses the purpose of the tower, and whether or not Nimrod was involved, and even digs into some of the basics of linguistics and language families.

And then you get to Chapter 17...

This chapter blew me away. Bodie Hodge has taken most, if not all, of the major descendants of Noah, who are listed in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, and has researched what happened to each group. Each group has a map depicting their migrations, showing where they went initially, as well as further splits and scatterings.

This chapter represents so much information, it's staggering. And even though it's seventy pages long, it's easily read and hard to put down.

Tower of Babel was fascinating to read. But the implications are tremendous. With so much verifiable research accomplished for this book, it goes a long way to strengthening the foundation of biblical authority, especially in the area of early history. Here's why: if these stories from the early chapters of Genesis are true, then the alternatives for our history currently being taught in the public arena cannot also be true. Since this all happened so long ago, and details have been shrouded by the mists of time, it's hard to know. But in this volume, we are presented with research, facts and data that present God's Word in a fashion that cannot be refuted.

And if the authority of God's Word is proven to be true in history, then it holds true in all other areas as well.

The only question that's left is this: How are we going to respond?

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Master Books has never failed to disappoint in the books they publish. Author, Bodie Hodge, takes the reader through impeccable research and Biblical truths that reveal the hand of God that moved people across the globe after mass disobedience on the plains of Shinar (which means "between two rivers").

Bodie Hodge details how the true history of the Tower of Babel is being attacked: evolution-based racism, mythological ideologies, and the reinterpretation of historical events into philosophical ideas. Each attack is on the authenticity and authority of God's inspired Word and attempts to hold man's ideas higher than the almighty Creator God.

It's both fascinating and horrifying to read that the Tower of Babel began construction about 106 years after Noah's worldwide flood. To think that God's grace saved Noah's family, yet their descendents went right back to the sinfulness of their forefathers; the very sin that destroyed them. It reminds me that none of us are immune to sin and it's destruction on our lives and those around us.

Mr. Hodge expands on different areas that are quite interesting. He discusses (in detail) the difference between the continental shift that occurred during Noah's flood and the splitting up of people into various new lands, the possible location of the Tower of Babel (Iraq), how much of the tower was built, Babel's purpose in being built, who tore it down in years to come, where languages came from, genealogies back to Noah's time, the ice age (which peaked about 400 years after Babel) and migration, where various families/groups moved/settled, extra-Biblical supports for the Tower of Babel/dispersion of our ancestors, why people now don't live as long as they did pre-flood, the origin of written languages, dispersion at Babel to gathering of saints at Pentecost (to spread the gospel message), the ancient book of Job, and much more highly informative research.

If you have ever thought that the Tower of Babel is inconsequential to the world today or if you are the person who has always wanted to know more about Babel; I encourage you to read this book. It is full of illustrations, maps, and easy-to-follow genealogies that will keep you interested from beginning to end. I'll have to make time to read it again just to soak up all the information available. It's a wealth of research and Biblical truths, confirmed by both the Bible and sources outside God's Word.

I received this book from New Leaf Publishing in exchange for my honest review. I hope you will take the time to find/read Tower of Babel for yourself. A review could never come close to revealing the depth of knowledge contained in these pages.

[Vera Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe it is rather obvious that the lay person (I'm one of those "lay persons") can only take at face value what is taught by "authorities" on the subject of civilizations and events in history, especially ancient history. However, Christians do have an authority on which to base how they individually interpret history and that is God's Word, the Bible. But that, too, you see is open to interpretation by various scholars. So looking at the scholarly work of authorities in the field of archeology and Biblical studies, the lay person can begin to form opinions of his/her own regarding the subject of how the languages became confounded, how man migrated throughout the earth, and what the Tower of Babel actually was.

In The Tower of Babel by Bodie Hodge we find a relatively short, yet thorough treatise on man's dispersion, the origins of language varieties, and thoughts on the actual tower's structure.

The Tower of Babel shows that roughly 106 years after the flood and the settling of Noah's family's descendants in the plains of Shinar, the people began to build a tower to reach God. But God, displeased with this action, confounded their language and they set out to separate themselves by language. This led to migrations.

This is not a coffee table book or one that you can peruse lightly and understand. The material is complex and involves Biblical studies as well as an understanding of available history and archeology of the period. I found it interesting and believe it would be a valuable asset for the individual who wishes to pursue the study of the tower of Babel, spread of peoples (nations), and confounding of the languages. This little volume would be an asset to the home, school, or public library.

This is a small, intensely researched book on the Tower of Babel and it has a decidedly Biblical Creationist slant.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by New Leaf Publishing Group for the purpose of review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. No compensation was received for this review.

[Julie Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn in right away with the first chapter, How Do You Pronounce Babel, Anyway?. It seems like a rather unimportant topic to be worthy of a whole chapter, but it goes show that we are still affected by the language division that occurred at Babel. Hodge also uses it to show how hung up we get on the details and tend not to focus on the bigger picture of what led to the dispersion, sin and rebellion against God. If language roots are not as exciting for you, keep reading because it only gets better.

Using the Bible as the foundation for truth, Hodge goes on to address many of the controversies and criticisms of the biblical account of of Babel. I was amazed at the amount of research that went into this.

Some of the topics included in the book are:

What are the attacks on the biblical account and how are the truths revealed.
Disobedience
When and where did the scattering occur?
What did the tower look like, was it complete and what was its purpose?
Where did all of the people go and how did they get there?

He also discusses many questions about individuals pre and post flood including life span and ancestry.

Once I hit Chapter 17 I was astonished at the amount of information provided. He took the descendants of Noah, from the Table of Nations, and researched where each of them went after the dispersion. I will admit that I tend to skim over Genesis 10 and other areas where genealogies are listed in the Bible, but I lingered on this one chapter for much too long and I am sure I will go back to it again and again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. The amount of information contained within the pages was overwhelming, in a good way. There is so much to discuss, that I could never cover it all within a short review. It presents so much truth to God's Word, through external sources, that is makes Genesis and our history undeniable.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would you like a book that addresses parts of the Bible that you have always found difficult to get anything out if? How about, for example, genealogies? How about questions on the races and languages of our world and how exactly the Tower of Babel episode really played out and shaped the world we know today? Then you might really enjoy The Tower of Babel by Bodie Hodge and published by Master Books.

I’ll confess some of the material may be too narrow in its appeal your taste. Discussing how to pronounce “Babel” may not be a question you have had a burning desire to have answered, but I assure your other parts like chapter 13 entitled ” What about Extra-Biblical Tables of Nations and Genealogies That Go Back to Noah?” are riveting. Finding the names of the Biblical genealogy is exciting. I didn’t need that discussion to believe myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy reading it.

Mr. Hodge is good at seeing what is really at stake. The authority of God’s Word is, as always, the heart of the issue for these type discussions. When he shares what might at best be esoteric knowledge at least he confesses when he is speculating and he faithfully brings us back to core issues.

He may at times revisit subjects that we thought we had a handle on, like the division of the continents being in Peleg’s day or the dating of the Book of Job, but whether you agree with him or not, you will be given substantial food for thought. There may also be places that are too detailed, like an in-depth analysis of the genealogy as it relates to today, but it still makes a wonderful reference to pull off the shelf. Too bad there isn’t an index.

The last chapter is short but ends where it should: Christ. In other words how does this fit in the big picture? How does it fit in me? Put this down as a fun read.

[Joe Cortez II · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several years ago, I embarked on a quest to build my family tree. I wanted to know where my family line led and what my roots were. In theory, this is an easy task; just look up documents from various resources including family interviews, Internet searches, and other places. Well, that research is not as easy as it sounds.

Bodie Hodge succeeds in this endeavor. The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors provides us with an insightful and revealing look into our human family tree. I was impressed with the level of detail given to describing family lines and the path from Noah and his family, through the Tower of Babel, and on through the ages. Of course, there is no way for this type of an exhaustive topic to be put into a one-volume presentation. However, The Tower of Babel is an excellent primer for those interested in our true ancestry.

There are nuggets of surprising truth that raised my eyebrows more than a few times. I love the way Bodie connects the names of current nations with the names mentioned in Genesis 10. As an example, in the chapter discussing Japheth’s grandson, Ashkenaz, Bodie shows us that there is a lake in Turkey that may reflect Ashkenaz’s name. Lake Askania is in a region known to have been populated by the descendants of Ashkenaz according to Jeremiah 51:27. The connections made in The Tower of Babel are faith-building and Bible-affirming. Those who read this introduction to our ancestry will appreciate the connections all of us have to God’s revealed truth in Genesis.

Bodie Hodge brings age-old history into a fresh and insightful presentation that is sure to build up your faith with historical and geographical insight and evidence!

The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors is published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group.

[Tammy Gisel · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4QWH2...

Could all the languages of today truly have come from Babel? Isn’t the Tower of Babel Just a myth? Are the genealogies of the Bible really important? These questions and much more are answered in Bodie Hodge’s “The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors.”

As a homeschooling family we teach that the Bible is our true, literal history. This book, written in laymen’s terms, is easily understood and upholds the authority of God’s word and supported by numerous ancient texts. At those times where Bodie clearly states he is speculating, he does so while staying true to God’s Word. It traces all our roots back to Babe. And those Biblical genealogies that I used to skip over have now taken on a new meaning and understanding. Bodie paints a vivid picture of how the nations were dispersed and includes many charts & maps as visual aids.

From sound reasoning that excludes the need for evolution, “Babel” unlocks the answer as to human-kind being of one race. In some areas the book whets your appetite for further investigations, such as finding Genesis in the Chinese language, and provides numerous resources for further study. From high school to adult, there is much food for thought and a new understanding of what can often be thought of as a small episode in biblical history.

Regardless of whether or not this book gives you a deeper understanding of what took place at Babel, Bodie summed it up neatly when he says, “let’s not forget the reason for it all - Christ.”

Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group gave me this book in exchanged for my honest review. (And I am so glad they did!) http://www.newleafpublishinggroup.com/

[David Green]

I recently Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors by Bodie Hodge. It is a new book, just published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group. I have always been a fan of Master Books, and am very interested in history, so was very excited to get the book and started reading it as soon as it arrived.

Wow! I only thought that I had done a thorough study of the Tower of Babel, until I started reading this book! Mr. Hodge does a very excellent job of defending the accuracy of Scripture. In the book, he covers everything from the pronunciation ("bay-bel" or "ba-bel") to Christ at Babel.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that in the book there are a lot of maps and charts detailing how the people of the world probably migrated from Babel. The book also details historical events and how they fit in with the tower of Babel. These events include the breaking up of the continents and the ice age, as well as the date for the book of Job and the ages of the patriarchs.

And, Mr. Hodge does not shy away from answering the attacks on Genesis 11, and showing the effects of these attacks. This book also gives the reader plenty of resources to counter those attacks and defend the truth.

I do wish the book had a good index which would make it easier to find things later when using the book for reference.

The author very much takes the Bible literally, and defends the accuracy of the Scriptures. This book is a great addition to my library, and would work well for anyone who is interested in history. It is a great read for those who are involved in church work - whether pastor or teacher, and would work well as an addition to any homeschool curriculum. Get a copy for yourself, and another to give as a gift!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This upcoming school year, we are back to year 1 history- Ancients in our 4 year cycle. I'd been planning the upcoming year and when hearing Master Books was looking for reviewers to review Bodie Hodge's new book "Tower of Babel, the cultural history of our ancestors" I was SUPER excited. Unlike Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, etc. times, the earliest history is a bit hard to cover, due to lack of written resources. This book is a big step in the direction of remedying that problem.

My thoughts on the book-- Author Bodie Hodge Did an amazing job bringing to life the history of the peoples of the tower of Babel. This book is engaging and informative, seeking to answer, and succeeding, the questions:

How do you pronounce Babel?
Is the Tower of Babel real, and does it MATTER?
When and where did the scattering of peoples occur? Where?
What did the Tower look like?
How can all the languages currently in existence be accounted for?
What was the origin of writing?
What was the original language?

"Tower of Babel answers these questions and many more in ways I didn't even realize possible. I just didn't realize all that information was "out there" it just isn't available in mainstream media. I love the use of visual aides like diagrams, charts, pictures, etc. For a visual person like me, this is very helpful for understanding complex information dense material. Nonetheless, i found the book to be tenable, and particularly informative. I plan to use it as a read aloud next year with all my school-agers, who will then be ranging from 2nd grade-9th.


Disclaimer- I received this book as a free review copy in exchange for posting a truthful review. The thoughts contained within this post are my honest opinion.

[Darren Lauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit my bias up front, I think I would recommend any book published by Master Books.

When browsing the contents of the book, I noticed that there was one appendix, and it was discussing the chronological placement of the book of Job. So, of course, I skipped to that part first! This provided a good deal of helpful information to shape the bibliography for my own research. Thank you Mr. Hodge! http://WhenHisVoiceIsHeard.wordpress.com

Starting with the pronunciation of the word Babel, as an example, Mr. Hodge points out the powerful effect of distinct languages to place a barrier between people. Then he sketches the common attacks against the Bible regarding this historical account. Demonstrating that these battles are to be engaged as a biblical authority issue, he then addresses these attacks, showing why they are not valid.

Using Bible study to establish the foundation for history, this book proceeds to teach us, all of us, about our ancient ancestry. When you go back in history far enough, we all have the same family tree. Related topics that are included are languages, plate tectonics, legends about the tower and language split, decrease in life span, and more.

The tower of Babel is within the same era as the landing of the ark, so this time frame is the re-starting point of history. From that perspective, this book helps us to comprehend a biblical framework to view and understand all ancient history. Since history is key to understanding our world, I recommend this book as an aid to infuse the Light of Truth into all of your thinking, providing discernment to your studies.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tower of Babel is packed with so much information and detail that you really can’t just sit down and read it through all at once. It’s not light reading; rather, it’s one of those books that you need to read the section, think about the implications of what is being stated, and then read a bit more. I found myself thinking outside of the box and looking at the tower of Babel in a different light. Yes, I’ve studied the Biblical account of the chaos at the tower, but this book is so much more than that. It digs into the culture, the genealogical timeline, the ramifications of the actions, and so much more.

The book begins with a discussion of how to pronounce Babel and the historic background of the different pronunciations. From there he takes you on a journey through history where you learn more about the Tower of Babel, you study historic accounts in different cultures, and dig deep into the genealogies in the Bible. He explains the significance of Noah and his descendants as well as how the events at the tower changed the face of mankind forever. The genealogies, while often viewed as dry, begin to come to life as the men play a significant role in the history of our world.

Maps and charts abound as Bodie Hodge uses them to explain the importance of the various events in scripture. While the writing isn’t always cohesive, it is very in-depth and interesting in its own right. Biblical history is woven into the history of our world, so we can see the bigger scope of the events at the Tower of Babel.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to help facilitate the writing of a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed or required.

[Tony Breeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tower of Babel by Bodie Hodge is probably the last book you’ll ever need on anything related to the Biblical Tower of Babel and the Table of Nations. It’s exhaustive and very enlightening.

Granted, some of the chapters could have been chopped up into more bite-sized chunks; there was at least one that could have merited being a book all its own. In fact, that chapter [you’ll know it when you come across it] is likely the nucleus around which the rest of this book was constructed.

I’ve been in a habit of recommending Tower of Babel to anyone with questions on the subject ever since it was first published!

You can find out more about the Tower of Babel from the publisher or on Amazon.

Tony Breeden, from the Bookwyrm’s Lair

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the New Leaf Publishing Group Book review program on CreationConversations.com . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Brandon Lehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tower of Babel
If you're like me, you probably think of bad guys building a big tower and God confusing their languages. What else is there?

Well it turns out there is more to the story than first meets the eye. Bodie Hodge reveals the often overlooked truths to this world changing event in his book, Tower of Babel. If you've ever wanted to explore this subject in greater detail, then this is the book for you.

The book is arranged in concise, easy to read chapters, covering everything from the why, when, how, and now what. Hodge, takes us deep into this ancient and mysterious world, unlocking that which may be hidden from modern readers.

What surprised me most, was the ability to follow the different languages and people after the dispersion. Up until recent times, scholars utilized the Bible and the account of Babel to study the movements of ancient man. It is amazing the amount of data we have that corroborates the biblical narrative. I can assure you, that I never learned that in public school!

I highly recommend the, Tower of Babel, to any who are curious of this monumental moment in mankind's history.

I would like to thank Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group, for this free review copy.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to my daughter Kristen Willmarth, for my birthday gift, the book "Tower of Babel" by Bodie Hodge. Bodie is Ken Ham’s son-in-law and is greatly respected by the Back to Genesis staff. The book is an intriguing study of the biblical Tower of Babel, the history of our ancestors, and how compelling evidences lead our heritage back to the forbidden congregating and construction of that geographical anomaly.
Through historical and archeological documentation, Hodge gives compelling evidences that suggest the more than probable migration to the far reaches of the world by Noah’s three son's, Shem, Ham and Japheth and their descendants as written in Genesis 10. Addressing numerous subjects of secular reasoning (humanism) that attempt to undermine the authority of the written Word, the author helps us to understand the importance of the infallibility of the scriptures; that the truth of the story as fragmented as it may appear is all there, and that the Bible as a whole is the most trusted source of recordation/documentation that the archeological community depends on. All of this keeps us focused on the big scheme of things: the providence of God in the dispersing of the masses, and the ultimate redemption of the human race through the sacrifice of his Son.

[Tintinrulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tower of Babel" by Bodie Hodge, is a fantastic look at human history since the scattering at Babel. The author treats the event as biblical history, not truthful mythology. Explored are the remarkable records of ancient nations and early historians related to Babel. Studies in ancestry that trace the history of nations back to Noah's sons - Shem, Ham and Japheth. Also included are the connections between the longevity of the patriarchs and pagan ancestor worship (eg. Nimrod = Baal, the Greco-Roman myth concerning Hercules being a conflation and embellishment of history. There really was a man called Hercules and the myth is but a corruption of the Samson story - also history). I found the book to be a fascinating, well-researched read. The main chapter concerning the genealogies and where people scattered around the world was both mind-boggling, comprehensive and a little overwhelming. All in all, I highly recommend the "Tower of Babel". It really brings to life the early genealogies found in Genesis.

9/10