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Proverbs 1-9 contains ten instructions/lectures in which a 'father' addresses his 'son(s)'. These lectures are in many respects similar: they address a 'son' or 'sons', urge the son(s) to listen, not forget but guard the father's teaching, and affirm the value of this teaching. Despite their similarities, however, rhetorical criticism reveals that the ten lectures may be classified into three groups or subsets on the basis of their rhetoric: (1) calls to attention (1.8-19; 2.1-22; 4.1-9; 4.10-19), (2) calls to remember and obey (3.1-12; 3.21-35; 4.20-27), and (3) warnings against the alien/strange woman (5,1-23; 6,20-35; 7.1-27). Further, although the lectures of each subset possess common features that distinguish them as a group, each lecture also possesses unique features that distinguish it from other group members. One may conclude that Proverbs 1-9 contains three distinct subsets of lectures with diverse members, ten lectures with ten different rhetorical strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]