Midrash Lekach Tov on the Parsha:
Why did this portion need to start with the people gathering as a community (VaYakhel), gathering them to warn them regarding Shabbat, and to command them regarding the preparation of the tabernacle? Because this opportunity for generosity was for the women and men equally, thus Moses needed to gather them. As it is said: "And Moses convoked..."
Midrash Aggada:
Take from amongst yourselves gifts for God... Take (kecha) is the language of giving. Take is also the language of argument. Take is also the language of planting. Take is also the language of greatness. Here it is the language of giving.
Midrash HaGadol on the Parsha:
And Moses convoked... on the seventh day... a complete day of rest. Rabbi Yehuda said: Weren't we just speaking about the work of the tabernacle? Why is it speaking of shabbat next to the issue of the tabernacle? To what can this be compared? To a king who had a guardian (who was entrusted with the king's possessions.) The king commanded the guardian and said to him: Make me a palace with such an such levels, and prepare such and such for its vessels. The king rushed over there and was incredibly joyful. The queen entered before him and said: My Master is the king! And my importance and happiness you didn't think of?! Immediately he turned towards her and made her a happiness for herself. So it was in our story: Since God commanded Moses concerning the building of the tabernacle, Shabbat said in front of The Holy Blessed One: Master of the Universe! You made me separate from the six days of creation and made me holy, and now Moses warns Israel regarding the tabernacle, yet my name isn't mentioned though perhaps through their desire in building the tabernacle they'll come to violate me! Immediately The Holy Blessed One, turned and said to Moses: Write a section about Shabbat in the midst of the work of the tabernacle, for the building of the tabernacle does not supercede shabbat or a holiday.
Lekach Tov on the Parsha:
The men and the women brought... What does this come to teach nus? Because it says, " Take the earrings of gold that are in your wives' and children's ears and bring them to me." (Ex. 32:2) Israel said: How can we make atonement for the sin of taking the earrings, between us and our families, for taking their jewelry to make an god of gold? Since Moses had gathered all of them together in order to bring gold and silver for the work of the tabernacle, each and every one brought from his possessions and from his pocket, as it says, "And every person whose heart was so moved and who spirit was generous brought an offering for God."
Midrash Aggadah on the Parsha:
Men and women came together with a whole heart. So that the men wouldn't say after the building of the tabernacle: What right does a women have to give without our permission? And so the women wouldn't say: What right does the man have to give my jewelry without my permission?
...
And another reason that they came together, men and women, was so that they would not covet others' partners. Thus, all of Israel came, spouses together, and that is why Billam said, "How pleasant are your tents, O Jacob." (Num 24:5)
Midrash HaGadol on the Parsha:
This teaches that the women brought gifts before the men, and then the men brought afterwards. Thus the women of that generation merited more than the men, for they entered the land and these did not.
(ב) דָּבָר אַחֵר, לֹא יִגְרַע מִצַּדִּיק עֵינָיו. בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּא מֹשֶׁה וְאָמַר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, קְחוּ מֵאִתְּכֶם תְּרוּמָה (שמות לה, ה), שָׂמְחוּ שִׂמְחָה גְדוֹלָה וְהֵבִיאוּ הַנְּדָבָה בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבִזְרִיזוּת. רְאֵה מַה כְּתִיב: וַיָּבֹאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים עַל הַנָּשִׁים (שמות לה, כב), שֶׁהָיוּ דוֹחֲקִין זֶה עַל זֶה, שֶׁבָּאִין הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא וּמְבִיאִין הַנְּדָבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְכָל אִשָּׁה חַכְמַת לֵב וְגוֹ' (שמות לה, כה),
(2) Another explanation of God draweth not God's eyes from the righteous. At the time that Moses came and told the Israelites: Take ye from among ye an offering unto the Lord (Exod. 35:5), they rejoiced exceedingly and brought their free-will offering with joy and eagerness. Notice that it is written: And they came both men and women (ibid., v. 22); that is to say, in their eagerness they pressed against each other. The men and women came as a huge throng when they brought their gifts, as it is said: All the women that were wise-hearted (ibid., v. 25).
(טז) וַיַּקְרִיבוּ נְשִׂיאֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (במדבר ז, ב), לָמָּה נִזְדָּרְזוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים לָבוֹא וּלְהַקְרִיב תְּחִלָּה, וּבִמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן נִתְעַצְּלוּ וְלֹא הֵבִיאוּ אֶלָּא אַבְנֵי שׁוֹהַם וְאַבְנֵי מִלּוּאִים בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה. לְפִי שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר משֶׁה, כֹּל נְדִיב לֵב יָבִיאוּ תְּרוּמַת ה' לִמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, וְלֹא אָמַר לַנְּשִׂיאִים, הָיָה רַע בְּעֵינֵיהֶם עַל שֶׁלֹא אָמַר לָהֶם לְהָבִיא, אָמְרוּ יָבִיאוּ הָעָם מַה שֶּׁיָּבִיאוּ וּמַה שֶּׁיְּחַסְּרוּ נְמַלֵּא אֲנַחְנוּ. שָׂמְחוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְהֵבִיאוּ בְּשִׂמְחָה כָּל נְדָבָה וּבִזְרִיזוּת, רְאֵה מַה כְּתִיב (שמות לה, כב): וַיָּבֹאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים עַל הַנָּשִׁים, שֶׁהָיוּ דוֹחֲקוֹת זֶה עַל זֶה וּבָאִים אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא, וְלִשְׁנֵי בְּקָרִים הֵבִיאוּ כָּל הַנְּדָבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לו, ג): וְהֵם הֵבִיאוּ אֵלָיו עוֹד נְדָבָה בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר, וּכְתִיב (שמות לו, ז): וְהַמְלָאכָה הָיְתָה דַיָּם וגו', לְאַחַר שְׁנֵי הַיָּמִים בִּקְּשׁוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים לְהָבִיא נִדְבָתָם וְלֹא יָכֹלוּ שֶׁכְּבָר צִוָּה משֶׁה (שמות לו, ו): וַיַּעֲבִירוּ קוֹל בַּמַּחֲנֶה וגו', וְהָיוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים מְצֵרִים עַל שֶׁלֹא זָכוּ בְּנִדְבַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, אָמְרוּ הוֹאִיל וְלֹא זָכִינוּ בְּנִדְבַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן נִתֵּן בְּבִגְדֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות לה, כז): וְהַנְּשִׂאִם הֵבִיאוּ אֵת אַבְנֵי הַשֹּׁהַם וגו', אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּנַי שֶׁנִּזְדָּרְזוּ, יִכָּתֵב שֶׁהֵבִיאוּ וְהוֹתֵר, וְהַנְּשִׂיאִים שֶׁנִּתְעַצְּלוּ, חִסַּר אוֹת אַחַת מִשְּׁמָם, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב וְהַנְּשִׂאִם חָסֵר יו"ד. כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּגְמַר הַמִּשְׁכָּן הִקְדִּימוּ וְהֵבִיאוּ קָרְבָּן בִּזְרִיזוּת...
(16) "And the Chieftains of Israel offered" (Bamidbar 7:2) Why were the Chieftains anxious to make the first offerings, but in the case of the Mishkan they were lazy and only brought lapis lazuli and other stones last? When Moses said, "Anyone whose heart so moves them, bring gifts to the Lord for the work of the Tabernacle," he did not (specifically) ask the Chieftains and this was wrong in their eyes. They said, "Let the people bring what is necessary, and whatever is left we will complete." All of Israel was joyous in the work of the Tabernacle, and they brought with joy everything voluntarily and with speed. See what is written, (Exodus 35:22) "They brought, the men and the woman." They were pushing one another and the men and woman were coming all mixed together. For two mornings they brought all the offerings, as it is written (Exodus 36:3) "They continued to bring to him freewill offerings morning after morning." And it is written, (Exodus 36:7) "The work was enough for them" After two days the Chieftains requested to bring their freewill offerings, but they couldn't since Moses had already commanded, (Exodus 36:6) "A proclamation was made through the camp, 'Let no further effort be made'" The Chieftains were troubled that they did not merit in the freewill offerings of the Tabernacle. They said, "Since we have not merited in the work of the Tabernacle, we will give for the clothes of the High Priests." Thus it is written (Exodus 35:27) "The Priests brought lapis lazuli and other stones" The Holy Blessed One said, "Of my children who were quick to bring, let it be written that they brought more than enough. But the Chieftens who were lazy, a letter should be removed from their name. Thus it is written "והנשאם" which is missing the letter "י". Thus when the work of the Tabernacle was completed, they were quick to bring the sacrifices quickly.
(ד) וְהַנְּשִׂיאִים שֶׁנִּתְעַצְּלוּ חָסֵר אוֹת אַחַת מִשְּׁמוֹתָם, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב וְהַנְּשִׂיאִם (שמות לה, כז), חָסֵר יוּ״ד אֶחָת. וְאַחַר כָּךְ הֶחֱזִיקוּ בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַמִשְׁכָּן בְּצַלְאֵל וְאָהֳלִיאָב בַּעֲבוֹדָתָן וְחַכְמֵי לֵב בַּעֲבוֹדָתָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיַּעֲשׂו כָל חֲכַם לֵב וְגוֹ' (שמות לו, ח). וְכֵן הַנָּשִׁים טָווּ אֶת הַתְּכֵלֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְכָל הַנָּשִׁים אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂא לִבָּן וְגוֹ' (שמות לה, כו).
(4) Because the leaders were slow to bring their gifts, a letter is omitted from their names. Thus in Scripture the word for leader lacks one yod.18The yod, which comprises half of the name of God, was removed to indicate their slothfulness. Later, however, they helped in the work of the Tabernacle, joining Bezalel and Oholiab in their labors and the wise men in their work, as is said: And every wise-hearted man that wrought (Exod. 36:8). And the women spun the purple curtains, as is said: And all the women whose hearts stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair (ibid. 35:26).