Final answer:
The Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament used by Hellenized Jews during the intertestamental period is referred to as the Septuagint. This translation enabled Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians to access the scriptures in Greek, the common language of the Hellenistic era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament used by Hellenized Jews in the intertestamental period is known as the Septuagint. By the second century BCE, Jewish communities living in Hellenistic cities, particularly in Alexandria under the Ptolemaic rule, felt the need for a version of the scriptures in their common tongue, Greek. This translation was essential for the Hellenized Jews who no longer spoke Hebrew as their first language but were fluent in Greek, the lingua franca of the eastern Mediterranean and the Near East during the Hellenistic period and beyond.
Since ancient Judea was under the control of the Ptolemies for much of the Hellenistic period, and due to significant Jewish migration to Hellenistic urban centers such as Alexandria, the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek was a significant cultural and religious project. This effort allowed Greek-speaking Jews to continue their religious practices and ensured that the Jewish intellectual legacy persisted alongside the Greek intellectual legacy, which was influential in various spheres including philosophy, education, and state affairs.
Moreover, the Septuagint also became an important resource for early Christians, including those who were Greek-speaking, as it provided a reliable version of the Old Testament scriptures which they considered as prophetic texts pointing to the life and mission of Jesus Christ.