Joshua tells Israel what the pile of twelve stones mean.
# The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh
This can be stated in active form. AT: "Yahweh cut off the waters of the Jordan in front of the ark of his covenant" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
# The waters of the Jordan were
"The Jordan River was"
# were cut off before the ark
The Jordan River was prevented by God from flowing up to the ark that was being carried by the priests.