The Identity of the "Adversaries" in Ps 78:66

Introduction

Psalm 78:66 reads as follows in the MT:

וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃

"(forthcoming CBC)... And he struck his adversaries backwards; eternal shame he gave them"

The identity of his adversaries in the first line and them in the second refer to the same group, though the identity of this group is not immediately clear. It is possible that the denotation is the Israelites rejected at Shiloh, Philistines humiliated by the presence of the ark of YHWH (as recounted in 1 Samual 5-6:12), or the enemies of God's people in general up to and including the rule of David.

Argument Maps

Israelites at Shiloh

His adversaries in Ps 78:66 refers to the Israelites at Shiloh.

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[Conclusion]: The conclusion of the argument map is presented as a white box with a colored outline. If the conclusion is preferred (i.e., if the creator of the argument map agrees with the conclusion), then the outline is green (as here).
 + <Supporting argument>: Arguments are presented as colored boxes. If an argument supports the preferred conclusion, then it is green. If it supports a dispreferred conclusion, then it is orange. The green arrow connecting this argument to the conclusion shows that the argument supports the conclusion.
  + [Evidence for supporting argument]: Evidence is presented as a white box with a colored outline. This piece of evidence supports an argument which supports the conclusion.
  <_ <Undercutting argument>: This is an undercutting argument. To undercut a claim is to say, "Yes, that may be true, but it does not support your argument because..." In other words, undercutting arguments do not refute the claim being made; instead, they undermine the claim of its supporting value. #dispreferred
 - <Refuting argument>: This argument is connected to the conclusion with a red arrow because it refutes the conclusion. In other words, this argument says, "The conclusion is not true, because..." This argument is orange because it does not align with the preferred conclusion. #dispreferred
  + [Evidence for refuting argument]: This is evidence for the refuting argument. It has a green arrow because it supports the refuting argument. It has an orange outline because it is being used to support a view that is not preferred. #dispreferred

The preceding discourse (vv. 59-64) recounts the defeat of the Israelites at Shiloh and is followed by the dir

Conclusion

Sensitivity to previous discourse (largely concerning the rejection of Shiloh—vv. 59-64) and conclusion of the psalm (in a minor way v. 67, but more clearly vv. 68-72). What does the verse contribute to the discourse retrospectively and prospectively?

References

78:66