כֵּיצַד מַעֲלִין אֶת הַבִּכּוּרִים. כָּל הָעֲיָרוֹת שֶׁבַּמַּעֲמָד מִתְכַּנְּסוֹת לָעִיר שֶׁל מַעֲמָד, וְלָנִין בִּרְחוֹבָהּ שֶׁל עִיר, וְלֹא הָיוּ נִכְנָסִין לַבָּתִּים. וְלַמַּשְׁכִּים, הָיָה הַמְמֻנֶּה אוֹמֵר (ירמיה לא), קוּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶה צִיּוֹן אֶל בֵּית ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ:
Wie bringen sie die Bikkurim [nach Jerusalem]? Alle Städte einer Ma'amad [eine von 24 Regionen, von denen jede wiederum eine Delegation in den Tempel entsandte, um anwesend zu sein und das gesamte Volk bei den öffentlichen Opfern zu vertreten] würden in die [zentrale] Stadt der Ma'amad gehen und schlafe in den Straßen dieser Stadt, ohne in die Häuser zu gehen. Wenn sie aufstanden, sagte der Aufseher: "Steh auf! Lass uns nach Zion gehen, zum Haus des Herrn, unseres Gottes!"
Tosefta Bikkurim
The commandment is to bring [the first fruits] of the seven types (Deut. 8:7-8), and if he only brought one type, he fulfilled his obligation. How so? He brings barley and places it on the bottom, and then something else on top of it; and then the next-to-the bottom is wheat, and then something else on top of that; and next he puts olives on top of them, and then figs on top of all of them, and surrounds them with grape clusters from the outside. They would not ascend [to Jerusalem] alone, but rather town by town (פלכים פלכים). They would not walk the entire day, but rather two thirds of the day. A cantor from the synagogue would go up with them and they would sleep in the streets of the city. They would not enter anyone's house due to [the possibility of contracting] tent-impurity, which requires a burnt offering an a peace offering. They would not occupy themselves [with distractions] during the journey [to Jerusalem] in the way that they would occupy themselves on the return journey.... When they arrived at the Temple Mount, even King [Herod] Agrippa would hoist a basket [of first fruits] on his shoulders and proceeded until he arrived at the Temple Courtyard. When he arrived at the Temple Courtyard, the Levites sang the psalm, "I extol you, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, and not let my enemies rejoice over me" (Ps. 30:1, JPS tr.). The birds that were tied to the baskets were offered as burnt-offerings, and whatever was in their hands they gave to the Priests.
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