Esther 2:20
Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people, keeping her Jewish identity and family background secret as Mordecai had charged her. She did the commandment of Mordecai just as when she was brought up with him, continuing to respect and obey his instruction as she had in childhood while growing up under his care. The obedience and loyalty learned at home shaped her later conduct, so that when her people faced destruction she obeyed Mordecai and risked death by going uninvited before the king, helping to save her nation.
The setting around the verse places Mordecai at the gate. The small company keeping the Sabbath is compared to Mordecai as an unwelcome presence. Hostile powers seek to remove that presence, showing that keepers of the commandments may be opposed.