And the people of Israel did so means that “the Israelites did as they were told,” or “did as Yahweh commanded them to do.” They gathered, some more, some less is literally “they collected, the one making many and the one making less.” It means “Some collected a large amount, some collected a small amount” (Translator’s Old Testament). Evidently each person had to estimate how much would be needed for that person’s household.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .