At the king's gate

Esther 3:1-4 - After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?" Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai's behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

In those days, the gate was a place of great importance not only for safety, but also for conducting business. At least that's the way it had been in Israel. I'm guessing it was of similar importance among the Medes and Persians. I would also think that the king's gate would be at least doubly important just because it was the king's gate and was in the capital city.

So I wonder how it was that Mordecai got to hang around the king's gate so much. Was it because his cousin was queen? I doubt the relationship was known because then, when Mordecai revealed his Jewish heritage, Esther's would have been known too.

Did Mordecai consider giving honor to Haman idolatry? He seems to make a connection between his Jewish heritage and practices with his refusal to bow before Haman. I wonder that the royal officials didn't force Mordecai to bow in honor to Haman in obedience to the king's order. Was Mordecai considered their equal? Or better?