The flute played before them, until they reached the temple mount. When they reached the temple mount, each man (even king Agrippa) put his basket upon his shoulders. Then they went in as far as the temple court. When they reached the temple court, the Levites recited the song: ‘I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast raised me up, and hast not suffered mine enemies to rejoice over me.’[[6]]
The pigeons which were fastened to the baskets were offered as sacrifices, while those which they held in their hands were given to the priests.
While the basket was still on his shoulder, he recited from I profess this day unto the Lord thy God,[[7]] till he finished the entire portion. Rabbi Judah says: Only as far as A wandering Aramean was my father.[[8]] When he reached the words A wandering Aramean was my father, he took the basket down from his shoulder, held it by its rim (while the priest put his hand under it, and waved it), and recited from A wandering Aramean was my father, until he finished the entire portion. He then placed his basket at the side of the altar, prostrated himself, and went out.
Formerly any one who was able to read would read by himself, while he who could not read would repeat after the reader. But as many people refrained from bringing the first-fruits on account of this, it was instituted that both, those that are able to read and those that are not able, should repeat after the reader.
The wealthy would bring their first-fruits in baskets of silver or of gold, while the poor would bring them in wicker baskets made of peeled willow-twigs. The baskets and the first-fruits were given to the priests.
2. The Libation of Water and the Water-Drawing Feast[[9]]
In what manner was the libation of water made? A golden pitcher of the capacity of three logs was filled with water from the brook of Shiloah. When they reached the Water Gate, they sounded a plain note, a tremolo, and a plain note. The priest went up the ascent of the altar, and turned to his left, where stood two golden basins. Rabbi Judah says: They were of gypsum, but their appearance was darkish because of the wine. In each was a hole like a narrow nostril, one of the basins having a big opening and the other a small one, so that both should become empty at the same time. The basin toward the west was for water, that toward the east for wine. But if the water is poured into the basin for wine, or the wine into the basin for water, it is lawful. Rabbi Judah says: The libation was performed with one log during all the eight days. Unto him who poured out the water they said: ‘Raise thy hands;’ because it once happened that a priest poured the water over his feet, and all the people pelted him to death with their citrons.
As they did on week-days, so they did on the Sabbath, except that on the eve of the Sabbath they would fill a golden pitcher, which had not been consecrated, with water from the brook of Shiloah, and place it in the chamber. If the water was spilt, or uncovered, they would fill the pitcher with water from the laver; for wine or water, which was uncovered, is not fit to be offered on the altar.
He who did not see the rejoicing of the water-drawing never saw real rejoicing in his life.
At the expiration of the first day of Tabernacles they[[10]] descended to the Women’s Court, where they made great preparations. Golden candlesticks were there, upon whose tops were four golden basins. Four ladders were placed near each candlestick, and four young priests held pitchers of oil containing one hundred and twenty logs, which they poured into basins.