And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
Ferry boat - probably rafts, which are still used on that part of the river. If there was a ferry boat, it was a luxury apparently provided for the convenience of the king's household. But Josephus calls it a bridge of boats ('Antiquities,' b. 7:, ch. 11:, sec. 2). The Septuagint refers this to the men, the servants of Ziba, and the attendants of Shimei, who helped to carry the members of the royal household across the river [kai eleitourgeesan teen leitourgian tou diabibasai ton basilea, and they performed the service of carrying over the king. Kai diebee hee diabasis tou exegeirai ton oikon tou basileoos kai tou poieesai to euthes en ofthalmois autou-And the passage was effected by gathering together (on the western bank of the Jordan) the household of the king, and doing what was pleasing in his sight].