Asher ben Abraham Crescas prefaced his commentary to Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed with his concern that many people were eager to study the Guide but were not prepared for the depths of its wisdom and might be led to confusion or even heresy by it. He decided to write a brief, basic commentary that would not reach the depths of Maimonides’ intent, but that he saw as necessary for young readers without the requisite philosophical background to approach the Guide even with existing commentaries.