# They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were killed with the sword

"People threw stones at others. People sawed others in two. People killed others with the sword" 

# went about

"went from place to place" or "lived all the time"

# in sheepskins and goatskins

"wearing only the skins of sheep and goats"

# They were destitute

"They had nothing" or "They were very poor"