John 2:14

ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ. In the sacred enclosure, viz. the Court of the Gentiles, sometimes called ‘the mountain of the house;’ whereas ἐν τῷ ναῷ (see on John 2:19) would mean in the sanctuary, in the Temple proper: the traffic would be great on the eve of the Passover. The account is very graphic, as of an eyewitness; note especially καθημένους; the money-changers would sit, the others would stand. The animals mentioned are those most often wanted for sacrifice.

τ. κερματιστὰς. From κέρμα (κείρω) = ‘anything cut up, small change:’ the dealers in small change. The article implies that they were habitually there. Comp. Zechariah 14:21, where for ‘Canaanite’ we should perhaps read ‘trafficker’ or ‘merchant.’