Many men in power cannot abide the prospect that others who are brighter, smarter and more capable could step into their shoes.
A religion fiercely based on patriarchal rulership needs to keep females in their right place. Patriarchy has its own internal justification for doing so.
BTW, most shepherds, sooner or later, round up the sheep they've been protecting for the abbattoir. Shepherding is seldom sweetness and light - something modern civilization sheilds itself from.
The violence of shepherding nicely captures the razor-sharp blood lust down on the farm. Excuse me whilst I tuck into my lamb chop.