Bikkurim, Chapter 3, Mishnah 3. Continuing the description of how the bikkurim were brought, the Mishnah sets out the order of the ascent to Jerusalem and the reception that was prepared for those who brought them.
The words of the Mishnah:
"HaKerovim mevi'im te'einim va'anavim" - those from the towns near Jerusalem would bring fresh figs and fresh grapes.
"VehaRechokim mevi'im gerogaros vetzimukim" - those who lived far away, whose fruit would not stay fresh along the journey, brought dried fruit: gerogaros are dried figs, and tzimukim are dried grapes (raisins).
"VehaShor holech lifneihem" - an ox would walk at the head of the groups that brought the bikkurim.
"VeKarnav metzupos zahav" - the horns of that ox were overlaid with gold, gilded horns.
"Va'atarah shel zayis berosho" - a crown made of olive branches was placed on its head, something like a laurel wreath.
"VehaChalil makeh lifneihem" - the chalil, a wind instrument, was played before them, "ad shemagi'im karov liYerushalayim".
"Higi'u karov liYerushalayim":
Once they reached the outskirts of the city, "shalchu lifneihem" - they sent word ahead to Jerusalem to announce their arrival, "ve'itru es bikkureihem" - they adorned the bikkurim. The bikkurim were adorned by placing the nicer, choicer fruits on top, and this was the preparation that preceded their entry.
"HaPachos vehaSeganim vehaGizbarim yotzim likrasam":
Three groups of people would go out to greet those coming up:
HaPachos - kohanim, the appointed officers and assistants in the Beis HaMikdash.
HaSeganim - the assistants drawn from among the Levi'im.
HaGizbarim - the treasurers.
These went out to greet the delegation, namely the people of the region who had come up from the various towns. And the Mishnah adds: "Lefi kevod hanichnasim hayu yotzim" - the honor due to those entering determined who would go out to meet them.
The Yerushalmi asks: is there really room to give one person preference over another? After all, every Jew is considered a child of kings. The Yerushalmi explains that it depended on the number of people: a large group - more people would go out to meet it and it received a greater honor guard; a small group - a more modest reception.
The craftsmen standing:
All the craftsmen and workers in Jerusalem would stand up before those coming up as they passed on their way to the Beis HaMikdash. There is a striking novelty here: although a person is generally obligated to stand before a Torah scholar, craftsmen are exempt from standing before him because they are occupied with their work - and yet before those bringing the bikkurim they did stand. This is also the reason that people stand before the ba'alei bris who bring the baby in for the bris milah.
Those craftsmen who sat in Jerusalem engaged in their work would ask after their welfare and greet them, saying: "Our brothers, people of such and such a place, welcome, you have come in peace." With these words they received them as they came to bring their bikkurim.
In summary: in this Mishnah we learned the difference between those close to Jerusalem, who bring fresh figs and grapes, and those far away, who bring dried figs and raisins; the procession of the ox whose horns were overlaid with gold and who wore a crown of olive branches on its head, accompanied by the chalil; the advance announcement and the adorning of the bikkurim with the choicest fruits; the going out of the pachos, the seganim and the gizbarim according to the honor due to those entering, and the Yerushalmi's explanation that this was measured by the number of those coming up; and the craftsmen standing before those bringing the bikkurim and greeting them with words of peace.