156.

John burns to death 2000 in the tower of Azotus

Simon Machabees was getting old. So he gathered his sons around him and made a speech, encouraging them to fight in holy wars, as he and his brothers had done their entire lives.

Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said to them: I and my brethren ... have fought against the enemies of Israel from our youth even to this day ... And now I am old, but be you instead of me, and my brethren, and go out, and fight for our nation: and the help from heaven be with you. 1 Maccabees 16:

Simon's speech had the desired effect. In the next verse, Simon's son John enlisted 20,000 fighting men to attack Cendebeus.

He [John] chose out of the country twenty thousand fighting men, and horsemen, and they went forth against Cendebeus. 16:4

And after sounding the holy trumpets, John and his army routed Cendbeus's army.

And they sounded the holy trumpets: and Cendebeus and his army were put to flight: and there fell many of them wounded, and the rest fled into the strong hold. 16:8

John pursued the fleeing soldiers and, with God's help, burned 2000 of them to death in the Tower of Azotus.

John pursued after them ... And they fled even to the towers that were in the fields of Azotus, and he burnt them with fire. And there fell of them two thousand men. 16:9-10