And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
20. And all the congregation of the children of Israel. There is no reason why any one should be surprised that the order of the narrative is changed, since it plainly appears from many passages that the order of time is not always observed by Moses.
After hearing God's will, they went home and did it at once, no delay, no cooling of zeal. What strikes me is that their spirits made them willing, not any outward push. Love for God, desire for His presence, gratitude for His mighty works: from these good principles in the heart, their gifts came freely and found acceptance.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 35:20-29
And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. After they had heard what Moses was ordered to propose unto them, they immediately went to their tents, and fetched what they had with them, or were willing to part with, and brought it directly as a freewill offering to the Lord; as Exo 35:21 shows: from hence, Aben Ezra...