Exodus 6 · a question people ask
Amram married his aunt? Wasn't that forbidden?
The text says it plainly: "Amram took Jochebed his father’s sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses" (6:20). Numbers calls her "the daughter of Levi" (Numbers 26:59). The law against it came later, among "the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai" (Leviticus 27:34): "You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister" (Leviticus 18:12). Genesis records another marriage that the later law forbids ("You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father", Leviticus 18:9): Abraham says of Sarah, "she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife" (Genesis 20:12). Exodus records Amram's marriage without comment.
The verses
“Amram took Jochebed his father’s sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. The years of the life of Amram were one hundred thirty-seven years.”
“The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.”
““‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister. She is your father’s near kinswoman.”
““‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.”