Protoevangelium Jacobi

The Narrative of the Birth of the Mother of God In the time of the twelve tribes, Joachim was very wealthy and offered sacrifices to the priests, and said in his heart: "Let there be an abundance beyond all the people, of my offering by the Lord God for my consolation." And the great day of the Lord was approaching, and the sons of Israel were offering their sacrifice. And Ruben stood before their face and said to Joachim: "It is not fitting for you to offer your sacrifice first, because you have not set up a dwelling among Israel." And Joachim was greatly troubled by this word, and he went about the twelve tribes of his people, and Joachim said in his heart: "Let me go and see the tribes of my people, whether I alone have not set up a dwelling among the people." And he inquired of all the righteous, and all set up a dwelling among Israel. And he remembered the patriarch Abraham, because in his later days God gave him his son Isaac.

And Joachim was greatly distressed, and he did not appear to his wife. He turned his face and went into the wilderness, and there he set up his tent, and he fasted for forty days and forty nights. And Joachim said in his heart: "I shall not descend, neither to eat nor to drink, until my God looks upon me, and let my heart be my food and my drink.