Does Macbeth murder King Duncan because the witches plant the idea in his head, or do the witches greet Macbeth because he already has the idea?

Shakespeare’s play doesn’t say.

Here is another issue the play doesn’t address.

Macbeth thinks nearly everyone should be put to death, but he never thinks of killing the witches.

Why? Most kings at this time felt it their duty to have witches put to death.

For many centuries, so-called witches were put to death because of Biblical passages. More precisely, the Bible was cited when strong women were accused of being witches and were killed.

Here is Deuteronomy 18:10-11: Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or who consults the dead.

Here is Exodus 22:18: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

When children recite the Ten Commandments, they know nothing about the many Biblical passages that tell us whom to kill and for what reason. Children can easily memorize "Thou shalt not kill" (or some variation), but this simple wording doesn't mean what it seems to say.

Bible really means "Thou shalt not murder innocent people who have not violated one of the many rules that bring on capital punishment." People caught in the act of adultery are condemned to death. And there are many more reasons for being put to death.

I marvel that God allowed the witch passages to be included in the Bible. God would have realized that zealots would accuse innocent women on being witches, yet God allowed these passages to be in the Bible. Putting such passages in the Bible is like giving a razor blade to a baby--that is, humans can't be trusted with such passages. The passages have done harm throughout history.

By the way, do not contact spirits with Ouija boards

Here are the Ten Commandments. Again, the one about not killing is misleading since the Bible is very clear about whom must be killed.

Have no other gods before me
Do not make any graven image
Do not take the Lord’s name in vain
Keep the sabbath holy
Honor your father and mother
Do not kill
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal
Do not bear false witness
Do not covet--have no envious thoughts



Shakespeare's Macbeth has witches live = Exodus 22:18 says "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"