They came out of the town and made their way towards him.
“went” (KJV) or “came” (NIV) shows that her news produced a response “at once and in a rush.” (RWP)
“came” (KJV) or “made their way” (NIV) are translations of a descriptive verb better rendered “were coming” which vividly portrayed the long procession of Samaritans approaching Jesus.
S.D. Gordon comments, “The disciples had just been down to the town – they who knew the Master much longer and better. They brought back some loaves. That was all. The woman went down; she brought back some men.” (qt’d in Morris p. 276)