Note 1 at Joh 2:14: These animals were in the large outer court of the temple called Solomon's porch (see note 2 at Joh 10:23). They were special animals "without blemish" sold for sacrifices in the temple. In the second cleansing of the temple recorded in Mt 21:13, Jesus said these moneychangers were thieves. However, Mr 11:16 records that Jesus also would not allow anyone to carry a vessel through the temple. It was the fact that these things had compromised the purpose of the temple that drew Jesus' wrath (compare with Eze 44:7-8).