Why must the Kohen take the basket with Bikurim from the owner's hand?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: In order to wave it 1 (back and forth, 2 up and down - Targum Yonasan), before placing it in front of the Mizbe'ach. The Kohen places his hand underneath that of the owner 3 and they wave it together.
Sifri: Based on this statement, when the rich bring their Bikurim in silver and golden containers and the poor, in wicker-work baskets, made of willow-branches - the Kohen is permitted to keep the latter - as an additional gift. 4
Yerushalmi Bikurim, 1:6: Based on this statement, the Kohen may keep the basket - even if the Bikurim become Tamei.
And we learn this from a Gezeirah Shavah. Refer to 26:4:1.1:1. See also 26:151:1:1.
In all four directions.
Rashi Sukah 47b, citing Bikurim 3:6: It does not mean literally under the owner's hand (R. Chaim Paltiel - since that would be a Chatzitzah), but that the owner holds the basket on top, whereas the Kohen places his hand underneath the base.
See ha'Torah ve'ha'Mitzvah.
Why does the Torah add the (otherwise superfluous) word "Velakach ha'Kohen ha'Tene mi'Yadecha"?
Menachos, 61a: To teach us via a Gezeirah Shavah "mi'Yadcha" "Yadav" from Shelamim - in Tzav Vayikra, 7:30 - that the owner waves the Bikurim together with the Kohen 1
Menachos, Ibid.: The same Gezeirah Shavah teaches us that the Kohen waves the Shelamim together with the owner, and that the owner waves the Bikurim together with the Kohen.
Why does the Kohen place the basket in front of the Mizbe'ach?
Seforno: To demonstrate that the Bikurim is really a gift to Hashem, and Hashem is giving it to him together with the other Matnos Kehunah.
Where does one place the Bikurim if there is no Mizbe'ach?
Sifri: If there is no Mizbe'ach (when the Beis-Hamikdash is destroyed), the Mitzvah of Bikurim does not apply.
How will we reconcile the current Pasuk "Lifnei Hashem ... " - impying on the south side of the Azarah) with "Lifnei Hashem" in Pasuk 10 - which implies on the west side (See Torah Temimah, note 22)?
Yerushalmi Bikurim, 3:4: This teaches us that the owner places the Bikurim next to the south-western corner of the Mizbe'ach.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that the Kohen takes the basket in order to wave it. What is his source? Perhaps he merely takes it?
Moshav Zekeinim: He learns it from the word "Vehenicho". 1
The Gezeirah Shavah - See 26:4:1.1:1 - teaches us that Bikurim requires Tenufah, as implied by the Lashon of the Gemara in Menachos.
