Commento su Bikkurim 3:8

בקלתות של זהב – baskets overlaid with silver and gold

The rich would bring their bikkurim in baskets overlaid with silver or gold, while the poor used wicker-baskets of peeled willow-branches, and the baskets and the bikkurim were given to the priest. Today’s mishnah again returns to the distinctions made during the bikkurim procession between the rich and the poor. The rich would overlay their baskets with gold and silver while the poor were forced to bring their bikkurim in simple wicker baskets. Interestingly, according to the Babylonian Talmud, the rich would take their baskets back and only the poor had to leave their baskets there. This proves a folk saying found in the Talmud, “Poverty follows the poor.” That is to say, the poor get poorer, while the rich stay rich by getting their beautiful baskets back.

הסלים והבכורים ניתנים לכהנים – the baskets of the poor are given to the Kohanim, and the vase-shaped baskets of the rich are return are returned to them. From here, they said (Bava Kamma 9a), “poverty follows the poor” (i.e. the poor man is always under a disadvantage).