Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 32:3

"And all the people brake off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron." — Exodus 32:3 (ASV)

All the people brake off the golden earrings.—Aaron had miscalculated the strength of the people’s fanaticism. Not the slightest resistance was offered to his requirement; not the slightest objection was made. “All the people,” with one accord, surrendered their earrings. Some measure is thus provided of the intensity of the feeling which was moving the people and urging them to substitute an idolatrous worship for the abstract and purely spiritual religion which had reigned supreme since their departure from Egypt.