It is used to tie burdens on men and on the backs of animals. Jesus did not put out the regular merchants. He put out the money changers and those who were buying animals in advance of the Passover to hold for large profits. He upset the trays of the money changers. There were no tables and they are still unknown in the Orient.
Money changers sit on the ground, close to the walls of the houses.
In Aramaic the same word is used for buying as for selling. A dot over the second letter means selling, or a dot under the same letter means buying. It would be more reasonable to believe that Jesus dispersed the tumultuous crowd which was bargaining, swearing, spitting and doing dishonest business that should not be carried on in the temple grounds. He would not have interfered with the legitimate temple business permitted during festivals. Thousands of people had come from outside towns and far countries.