הַ֭צֵּל לְקֻחִ֣ים לַמָּ֑וֶת וּמָטִ֥ים לַ֝הֶ֗רֶג אִם־תַּחְשֽׂוֹךְ׃
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Mishneh Torah, Gifts to the Poor
The redemption of captives held for ransom takes precedence over sustaining the poor and clothing them. You do not find a mitzvah greater than the redemption of captives, for captivity is in the same category as famine, drought, or exposure, and one stands in danger to one's life. One who averts his eyes from redeeming [the captive] transgresses [the commandment], (Deut. 15:7) Do not harden your heart and shut your hand, and (Lev. 19:16) Do not stand upon the blood of your neighbor, and (Lev. 25:53) He shall not rule ruthlessly over him in your sight, and nullifies the commandment (Deut. 15:8) You must open your hand, and the commandment, (Lev. 25:36) Let him live by your side as your kinsman, and (Lev. 19:18) Love your fellow as yourself, and (Proverbs 24:11) If you refrained from rescuing those taken off to death, [those condemned to slaughter--if you say, "We knew nothing of it," surely He who fathoms hearts will discern], and many such sayings. You cannot find a greater mitzvah than the redemption of captives.153See Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 8a-b on the importance of redeeming captives and Chullin 7a where Rabbi Phineas ben Yair travels to redeem captives and, on the way, a river parts for him, enabling him to pass through on dry land to fulfill his duty.
Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah
He who shuts his eyes against the ransoming of captives transgresses the negative precepts, "Thou shalt not harden thy heart",2Deut. 15:7. and, "[Thou shalt not] shut thy hand";2Deut. 15:7. also this, "Neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor",3Lev. 19:16. and this, "He shall not rule with rigor over him in thy sight";1Lev. 25:53. and he neglects the positive precepts, "Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto him",2Dent. 15:8. and, "that thy brother may live with thee,"3Lev. 25:36. The Hebrew text permits the rendition “Let thy brother live,” etc. and, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"4Lev. 19:18. and, "Deliver them that are carried away unto death."5Prov. 24:11.