Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 9:5

"I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion." — 2 Corinthians 9:5 (ASV)

Therefore I thought it necessary, etc. This was in order to secure the collection and to avoid any unpleasant feelings for everyone involved.

That they would go before to you. Meaning, before I come.

And make up beforehand your bounty. This means to prepare it before I come. The word "bounty" is translated in the margin as "blessing." The Greek word (eulogian) properly means commendation or eulogy. Then it means blessing, praise applied to God. Then, it means that which blesses—a gift, donation, favor, bounty—whether from God to humans, or from one person to another. In this context, it refers to their contribution as something that would be suited to confer a blessing on others, or suited to produce happiness.

That the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty. This means that it may truly appear as a liberal and voluntary offering, an act of generosity, and not as something wrung or extorted from you, so that it may be truly a blessing—a thank offering to God, and suited to do good to others.

And not as of covetousness. Doddridge explains this as: "And not like a sort of extortion, wrung from you by sheer persistence." The word used here (pleonexian) usually means covetousness, a greediness for gain that leads a person to defraud others. The idea here is that Paul would have them give this as an act of bounty or liberality on their part, and not as an act of covetousness on his part—not as something extorted by him from them.