Why are were people selling animals in the Temple?

People were selling animals in the Temple primarily to facilitate the sacrificial system, as worshippers needed animals to offer for atonement and other religious rites. The Temple was a central place of worship in ancient Jerusalem, and many pilgrims traveled from distant regions, making it convenient to purchase animals on-site. However, this practice became controversial, as it led to commercialization and exploitation, prompting Jesus to famously overturn the tables of the money changers in a bid to restore the sanctity of the Temple.