Aaron, who served as a priest (religious leader), asked the people to bring gold rings. After that, he did not allow them to take part in the work.
This was very different from what God commanded for building the tabernacle. In that case, the people were invited to bring many kinds of offerings as they were willing (25:1–9; 35:4–36:7).
They also shared in the work under the direction of a skilled worker whom God filled with his Spirit, not under a priest acting alone (31:1–6; 36:1–2).